
>^ ..- 



















^>><i- 




v*^' 



%«. 












.-^^ . 




U 






v<^^ 



v-^^ 






\0 t, 




.- ^*^°- -.'^ 







V<^' 







.V 







^oK 




V-0^ 







.^' 






-^o 



-^c.. 



* ^ V 











^^0* 






o > 











LOXJISA^ILLE: 



HER 



COMMERCIAL, MANUFACTURING 



AND 



SOCIAL ADVANTAGES. 

INCLUDING A SKETCH OF HER 

' HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, TOPOGRAPHY, SCHOOLS, 
HEALTH, RAILROAD AND STEAMBOAT 
FACILITIES, WATER POWER, 

&e., &c., (tc. 

EXHIBITING HER ADVANTAGES AS A 

GREAT MANUFACTURING AND COfflERCIAL CENTER. 

ILLUSTRATED WITH 

(tngrnbings %\ stbcral of htr mnnerntis public guiliiings, h. 



By RICHARD DEERING. ^^^^' 

'-^ U.S.A. '^^ 



CO LOUISVILLE, KY: 

IIANNA & CO., PRINTERS, CORNER MAIN AND THIRD STREETS. 
1850. 



To WILLIAM KENDRICK: 

The Honest Man, the devoted Friend, 

THE accomplished Gentleman, the sincere Christian, 

AND the pleasant AND PROMPT BUSINESS MaN, 
THIS HUMBLE VOLUME 
IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, 

I5Y HIS OBLIGED AND GRATEFUL FRIEND. 

THE AUTHOK. 






THE NE\V EEA^. 



'•How is it, sir, that this beautiful city is so little known?" Thus inquired 
■in intelligent gentleman from a Northern State, of one of our citizens, recently. 
He was passing through Louisville on his way South, and from a glimpse at the 
beauty of the place, was induced to spend several days in looking at it more in 
detail. He walked our streets, surveyed the location and the improvements, 
and was struck, as every beholder must be, with the great beauty of the place, 
and expressed his admiration as above. His admiration was great, but his sur- 
prise that this "beautiful city is so little known," was greater. "How is it, 
sir?" said this gentleman. Had he known more of our citizens and of the 
policy they have pursued for many years past, he could himself have explained 
the puzzle. But he was not aware that, when he crossed the Ohio river, he lefY 
the land of adccrtisincf behind him. He was accustomed to see books, pam- 
phlets, maps, cards, and descriptive plates, from every place of any note in the 
great West, setting forth their importance and their advantages, with care and 
minuteness; and naturally supposed, from the nximber and frequency of such 
publications, and the well established policy and importance of them, that every 
community and city that had any thing worth advertising, had advertised it. 
And yet, who ever saw such a book or pamphlet, in the hotels, depots, steam- 
boats, and public places of the country, from any city of the Southwest, excepfc 
St. Louis? The citizens of that fine, enterprising city, were the first in the 
Southwest to throw off the slumber and join in this characteristic of modern 
progress. The people of the Southwest seem to take it for granted, or as u 
matter of necessity, that this "advertising mania," as they call it, originates i!i 
an unscrupulous disposition to deceive, and hence do not adopt it. But not- 
withstanding this bad opinion of those who advertise, it is amusing to see how 
much time and pains the people of the Southwest bestow on maps and descrip- 
tive books from places where they have an inclination to invest their means. 
They ex;;minc the map to see what kind and what extent of country immedi- 
ately surrounds the place, and also its relative position, whether favorable for 
trade, for manufacturing, and for commerce. They examine the description to 
find every fact that bears on or relates to the fortunes of the place. This is 
wise — just as wise as to go and look at a farm before we purchase it. Why 
then should we neglect to do for ourselves and our city, that which has been of 
so much advantage to other places, and which, despite our prejudices, we attach 
so much importance to! 

Thousands, yea, millions of dollars, have been invested by Southern men in 
Northern cities — in lots and other property — to which their attention would 
never have been called, but for such publications. Vast sums of money are 
thus invested every year by our own citizens. That there is indiscriminate 
pufiing in some instances, we may admit; but it does not follow that we are 
obliged to adopt such a course in publishing to the world advantages of which 
we are conscious, and which, if known, will bring good to ourselves and to 
those who read them. 

Why our citizens have viewed the subject of advertising in the light thoy 
have, is not our province to determine; but believing as we do, that they are in 
error in regard to it. we have labored for years to induce them to change their 
policy. There is still more or less reluctance, but a very decided change h:;s 



6 



THE NEW ERA. 



come over them, and henceforth we expect to see a state of things altogether 
more favorable than any ever yet realized in the progress of our beautiful city. 

The policy and the progress now so happily and so manifestly obtaining in 
the city, may, with great propriety, be regarded as the beginning of a new era 
in her history. Never beibre were there so many and striking evidences of 
progress, nor such prospects of permanent prosperity. This state of things has 
been brought about by several causes: as the concentration and accumulation 
of capital, the ease with which our city passed the late severe commercial crisi.--, 
and the completion, and near approach to completion, of several important public 
works, such as the Louisville and Lexington, the Jcffersonville and Indianapo- 
lis, the New Albany and Salem, the Louisville and Lebanon, the Louisville and 
Nashville, and the Louisville and Memphis llailroads, and the City Water 
Works. These Railroads and their vast connections are beginning to be pow- 
erfully felt in nearly every department of our business. But these eficcts, 
great as they are, do not equal what is to grow out of the change that has come 
over the people themselves. From a timid, backward, self-distrusting spirit, 
our citizens have waked up to a proper sense of their own power and capabili- 
ties. A far-seeing, public-spirited, and self-relying policy has taken possession 
of the popular mind, and this city is driving on toward a glorious destiny, with 
an unanimity, enterprise, and vigor, never seen here before. Hope has dawned 
i:i every breast. 

Our citizens have been merchants, paying little attention to manufacturing, 
without which no city has or can be permanently prosperous. Now, however, 
every heart beats responsively to this great interest, and manufacturing estab- 
lishments are springing up almost daily. 

As evidence that our expectations, so confidently expressed above, that the 
"iture progress of the city will far exceed the past, and that the New Era has 
already been inaugurated, we record the fact, that since this article was written 
(three weeks ago), two new Eounderies, one Cotton Factory, two Breweries, 
and a large Furniture manufactory, have been commenced; and more dwelling 
houses are now in course of construction than at this period in any former 
season. New buildings are seen in every part of the city, many of them man- 
ufacturing establishments. A large number of our old manufacturing estab- 
iiahments are also being enlarged. 

Louisville now stands before the world, a large, well-regulated city, rich in 
capital, rich in natural resources — rich, and growing richer, in artificial facili- 
ties of every kind — at once, and by far the most inviting field, especially for 
manufacturers and mechanics, in the Western country. 

The following pages exhibit a faint manifestation of the spirit and prospects 
of the city; — but, desiring to make our book small, in order that i!: may have 
a very general circulation throughout the country, wo have been obliged to 
omit much that is interesting, and some things of importance. 

The reader will find little in the style to admire — our aim being rather to 
enlighten than to entertain, to furnish facts rather than fancies. We are con- 
scious of imperfections, yet indulge the hope that our well meant efibrts may 
prove useful, which is our highest aim. 

If this little volume shall prove acceptable, we may follow it with a moie 
perfect one. 



SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF LOUISVILLE. 

Louisville is situated on the Southern bank of the Ohio river, at the Falls of 
said stream, in latitude 38"=' 3' Xorth, and longitude 85" 30'Wcst of Greenwich. 
Its position is one of remarkable beaut}-, and of great natural advantages as a 
manufacturing and commercial point. The obstruction of navigation by thir 
rapids, causing the river to spread into a broad, beautiful sheet of water a mile 
wide, almost Avithout a current, and perfectly straight for a distance of six miles 
above the Falls, forms a lovely feature of a charming landscape, and also one of 
the safest harbors for all kinds of river craft any where to be found. The 
descent of the river over a bed of limestone rock, 24 to 2G feet, in a distance of 
two miles, while it causes a pause in the progress of navigation, both ascending 
and descending, also provides water power for manufacturing equal to any in 
the United States. And, besides this, a vast extent of level, beautiful, and 
highly fertile lands, spreads out on either side of the river for many miles. 
These advantages of beauty and utility did not fail to strike the eyes of those 
enterprising white men who were the first to see them. 

Here, then, as having reached all that man could expect to find on earth in 
the way of natural advantages, the hardy pioneer, after a long and perilous 
voyage, moored his boat and pitched his tent. 

But few settlements, in any portion of the known world, have ever been 
eflected under so many discouraging circumstances, as that of Louisville and 
its adjacent country. The great bone of contention between the Northern and 
Southern tribes of Indians, who disputed the possession of it with each other 
for a hunting ground, it was not likely they could see a foreign people step in 
between them aud take possession of it, without a violent struggle on their part 
to prevent it. 

Man, in his natural and savage state, is by far the most remorseless and cruel 
animal of the creation, surpassing the tiger in ferocity, and incapable of for- 
giving an injury, however unintentionally it may have been offered to him. 
No matter what length of time may have elapsed from the moment in which it 
is committed — no matter what motives may have palliated, exciised, or justified 
the deed — nothing, no, not the silence of the tomb, can protect the object of 
his hatred: — he must have blood! and, in default of the offender, by a refine- 
ment in cruelty, making revenge to reach beyond the grave, he wreaks it on 
his defenceless widow or helpless children ! 

Such were the people among whom the daring settlers of Kentucky first 
pitched their tents in 1769. No sooner did they appear among the tawny sons 
of the forest, than the war-whoop was heard — the hell-hounds of death were 
let loose, and murder stalked triumphantly abroad. Every sun that rose wit- 
nessed some work of destruction — every wind that blew, wafted on its wings 
the heart-appalling yells of an infernal pack, fresh from their butcher chase; 
and that dust that had oft before imbibed the blood of the savage, now became 
saturated with that of his civilized brother. 

The fury of an ever-active and wary foe was not the only danger that 
threatened extermination to those few brave spirits who ventured to this "land 
of blood." Disease reared her pale form among them; so that many escaped 
the hatchet and the knife, only to receive their doom from its fell influence. 
Hunted and watched by the natives, like the beasts of the forest, depending 
upon their rifles for their support, the pursuit of which forced them into the 
toils, their bodies enervated by sickness, and their minds enfeebled by the con- 



10 HISTORY OF LOUISVILLE. 

tinual apprehension of danger — deprived of all medicine or medical aid — it is 
not to be wondered at that so few were added to their number, that a settlement 
so situated progressed but slowly. [^See Dr. JET. McMurtnjs Sketches of Lou- 
isville. 

The first white man who visited Kentucky, of whom wc have any account, 
was James McBride, who traveled through it in 1754. The earliest account we 
have of a settlement here, is that of Capt. Thomas Bullitt, who, in 1773, depu- 
ted by a special commission from AVilliam and Mary College in Virginia, came 
to survey lands and make settlements in the then territory of Kentucky. He 
landed at the head of the Falls, and having satisfied himself of the many and 
great advantages of this post, established his camp here. Having erected tem- 
porary shelter for his men and stores, ho made surveys of much of the adjacent 
country as far down as Salt river, to which he gave this name, because he there 
found the celebrated Salt Lick, which is still known as Bullitt's Lick. He 
held his new settlement in high estimation, on account of its many advantages, 
and purposed to return at once to his friends and procure the means to establish 
it. But death sought him in the midst of his well laid plans, and it was left 
for another to complete what he had so nobly begun. 

After Bullitt's expedition had been thus suddenly checked, the Falls were 
visited only by a few hunters and traders; and it was not until 1778 that any 
new attempt was made toward a permanent settlement on this site. 

In that year, Col. George Rogers Clarke, acting under the authority of the 
Legislature of Virginia, descended the Ohio with a detachment of three hun- 
dred men, destined to the reduction of Kaskaskia, Cahokias, and Vincennes, 
then British possessions. In order to deceive the enemy. Col. Clarke landed 
his troops on an island opposite the present City of Louisville, and had the 
ground cleared in orcTer to enable six families who accompanied the expedition, 
to plant corn thereon, which they did in the same year, viz: in the spring of 
1778. The six families were James Patton, Richard Chenoweth, John Tuel, 
AVilliam Faith, John McManus, and one other, whose name can not now be 
ascertained. Thus, with a feigned view of settling the country, he allayed the 
siispicion of the enemy with respect to his ultimate object. The detachment, 
headed by its enterprising leader, then proceeded on its march, leaving behind 
the aforesaid families, who, in the fall of 1778, removed to the main land, 
immediately opposite the island, which, from their little corn-field, has ever 
since been called Corn Island. Here they erected their cabins, the first dwell- 
ing houses ever built in Louisville. 

An addition was made to their numbers in the spring of 1779, by the arrival 
of a few emigrants from Virginia, who seated themselves adjoining and a little 
below them. In the fall of the year 1779, the government of Virginia opened 
an office for the sale of her lands situated on the western waters southeast of 
the Ohio and north of Green rivers, "at forty pounds per hundred," receiving 
in payment her paper money, which was not worth more than one shilling 
specie in the pound. This occasioned a very considerable influx of adventurers, 
who settled throughout the country, in stations or forts, so called from their 
being compelled to arrange their cabins in such a way as would serve for the 
purposes of defence, in case of an attack from the Indians. At this period 
there were but two avenues to Kentucky: the one led through the wilderness, 
the other down the Ohio. Those who came by the first, settled at Logan's 
Station, Ilarrodsburg, Boonsborough, and Lexington, and many who descended 
the river landed at Limestone (now Maysville), and pursued their way to Lex- 
ington; but others, not intimidated by reports of sickness prevalent at Louis- 
ville, nor of the murders committed on its settlers, continued on to that place. 
In the same fall, and the spring of 1780 seven difiercnt stations wore settled on 



HISTORY OF LOUISVILLE. 11 

lleargrass, near Louievillo, and also Boon's station, near Shelbyville. Thus 
>vas laid the foundation of this, at present, flourishing Entnpot of the Wrst. 

V\\ May, 1780, the Legislature of Virginia passed au ''Act for esta))lishing 
the Town of Louisville, at the Falls of Ohio." One thousand acres of land 
were by this act "vestod in John Todd, Jr., Stephen Trigg, George Slaughter, 
John Floyd, William Pope, George Merriwether, Andrew Mines, James Sulli- 
van, and 5larshall Brashears, gentlemen, trustees, to be by them laid off into 
lots of half acre each, with convenient streets and public lots, which shall be, 
and the same is hereby established a town by the name of Louisville." 

la accordance with this act, Louisville was first laid out in 1780, by William 
Pope. A new survey was subsequently made by William Peyton, assisted by 
Daniel Sullivan, who plotted the out-lots. None of these surveys, however, or 
any papers belonging to them, are to be found at this day; owing to some unac- 
wuntable negligence or sinister intentions they have been destroyed, a circum- 
stance that produced much dispute and litigation with respect to boundaries. 
The only plat deposited among the public archives, is that deposited in 1812, 
according to a survey of Jared Brooks. [»Sce Sketches of Louisville^ hy Dr. II. 
McMurtry, 1819.] 

-'The out-courses of this survey are from 35 poles above the mouth of Bear- 
2;rass creek, on the bank of the Ohio river, S. 83 W. 35 poles to the mouth of 
the creek; thence N. 87 W. 120 poles, N. 50 W. 110 poles to a heap of stones 
and a square hole cut in the flat rock; thence S. 88 E. 7G9 poles to a white oalc, 
poplar and beech, N. 37 W. 390 to the beginning, no variation." Main, Market, 
and Jeff"erson streets, which run nearly cast and west, are each 90 feet wide, all 
'>thers 60. except Water street, which is but 30. 

The squares formed by the intersection of these streets are divided into half 
acre lots, as far as Green street, but those south of that were laid off in five, 
ton, and twenty acres, through which the cross streets were to be continued as 
they might be wanted. A slip 180 feet wide, south of Jefferson street range of 
lots, extending the whole length of the town, had been reserved for a common, 
but the Trustees had it laid oft' in lots and sold it. The cross streets were 
twelve in number, tind called First, Second, Third, &c., being each GO feet wide. 

There were many ponds within the town plat, and these proved a source of 
fllisease for several years, until, by the advancing improvement of the streets, 
and filling up of lots, they have all disappeared, and with them the deadly 
fevers which long ravaged the place. Indeed, we of the present day, when 
Louisville is justly considered the healthiest city in the west, if not in the 
world, can have little conception of such a state of things as then existed. It 
was then called the graveyard of the Ohio, and people were as much afraid of 
it, as a dwelling place, as they now are of New Orleans. 

In 1780, during the same year in which the town was established, it received 
many valuable accessions to its inhabitants; yet the Indians continued to be 
troublesome, and lives were lost, prisoners taken, and horses stolen. Soldiers 
were sometimes shot near the fort, and many "hair-breadth 'scapes by field and 
flood" are related of those times, in the written and unwritten annals of Louis- 
ville. One of these we will give as wc find it in Casseday's History of Louis- 
ville: Four young lads, two of them named Linn, accompanied by Wells and 
Brashears, went on a hunting expedition to a pond about six miles southwest 
of Louisville. They succeeded well in their sport, having killed, among other 
^ame, a small cub boar. While they were assisting the elder Linn to strap the 
bear on his shoulders, and had laid down their guns, they were surprised by a 
party of Indiana, and hurried over to the White river towns, where they 
remained in captivity eeveral months. One of the party had in the mean time, 
boon carried to anotb^r town: and late in the fall the remaining three deter- 



12 HISTORY OF LOUISVILLE. 

mined to effect their escape. When night had come, they rose quietly, and 
having stunned the old squaw, in whose hut they were living, by repeated blows 
with a small axe, they stole out of the lodge and started for Louisville. After 
day-break, they concealed themselves in a hollow log, where they were fre- 
quently passed by the Indians, who were near them every where; and at night 
they resumed their march, guided by the stars and their knowledge of wood- 
craft. After several days, during which they subsisted on the game they could 
procure, they reached the river at Jefferson ville. Arrived here, they hallooed 
for their friends, but could not succeed in making themselves heard. They 
had, however, no time to lose — the Indians were behind them, and if they 
were retaken, they knew their doom. Accordingly, as two of them could not 
swim, they constructed a raft of the drift-logs about the shore, and tied it 
together with grapevines, and the two launched upon it, while Brashears plunged 
into the water, pushing the raft with one hand and swimming with the other. 
Before they had arrived at the shore, and when their raft was in a sinking con- 
dition from having taken up so much water, they were descried from this side, 
and boats went out and returned them safely to their friends. 

In 1781 a new fort was built, but we have no information as to the name or 
location of this fort. Its name and its history are swallowed up in that of 
Fort Nelson, which must have been built very soon after, if it was not com- 
menced at the same time as this nameless fort. Fort Nelson was built in 1782. 
by the regular troops, assisted by all the militia of the State. It was situated 
between Sixth and Eighth streets, on the north side of Main, immediately upon 
the "second bank" of the river. It contained about an acre of ground, and 
was surrounded by a ditch eight feet wide and ten feet deep, intersected in the 
middle by a row of sharp pickets. This ditch was surmounted by a breastwork 
of log pens, filled with the earth obtained from the ditch, with pickets ten feet 
high planted on the top of the breastwork. Next to the river, pickets were 
deemed sufficient, aided by the long slope of the bank. There was artillery 
likewise in the fort. General Clarke (he had now been promoted to this grade) 
had placed here a double fortified six-pounder, which he had captured at Vin- 
cennes. This piece played no inconsiderable part, both in the previous and 
subsequent expeditions of this General. Seventh street passed directly through 
the gate of the fort, opposite the head-quarters of Gen. Clarke. 

It was during this year that the celebrated barge navigation to New Orleans 
was commenced, or rather established, by Messrs Tardiveau & Honore. A few 
of the largest of these vessels were of the capacity of one hundred tons, and 
throe months were required to come from New Orleans to Louisville. This was 
the quickest time, and most of the boats required four, five, and even six months. 

In 1783, peace having been declared with Great Britain, an army was no 
longer necessary to guard the frontier against her allies, the Indians, and the 
troops were disbanded. Gen. Clark and his soldiers received a grant of oni' 
hundred and fifty thousand acres of land lying north of the Ohio, to be located 
where they chose. This grant was made by the Legislature of Virginia, and 
they chose the region opposite the Falls, and thus was founded the town oi" 
Clarksville, which is little more improved now than it was then. It is recorded 
that in this year, "A lot of merchandise, all the way from Philadelphia, arrived 
at the Falls, and Daniel Brodhead opened here a retail store." Another inci- 
dent of this year is worthy of notice. The notorious Tom Paine had written :i 
book ridiculing the right of Virginia to this State, and urging Congress to tak.- 
possession of it. Two Pennsylvanians, named Galloway andPomeroy, disciple> 
of Paine, came here and produced considerable annoyance among some of the 
landholders, inducing some people to pay no respect to the titles of their neigh- 
bors. This was an offense which was not contemplated by the law-makers, yet 







il;:!lii!li;il!iii':|,ii'iiiii;iil!llir!i:iiiiiliP'''i:^'' 



14 HISTORY OF LOUISVILLE. 

all admitted these men ought to be punished. At length an old law was brought 
to light, imposing a penalty in tobacco upon "the propagators of false news, t-o 
the disturbance of the good people of the colony." Under this law, Pomeroj 
was tried and sentenced to pay 2000 pounds of tobacco, and to give security for 
his good behavior in the sum of £3,000 beside. A similar fate awaited Gallo- 
way, but receiving a hint that if they would run away they would not be pur- 
sued, they gladly embraced the offer and departed. Such "higher law" and 
radical notions as emanate from infidels and levelers, never have met with any 
favor in Louisville, and let all the people say Amen! 

In 178 1 the town of Louisville contained "63 houses finished, 37 partly 
finished, 22 raised but not covered, and more than one hundred cabins." 

In 1789 the first brick house was built in Louisville. This structure wat? 
erected by JMr. Kaye, an ancestor of our well-known fellow-citizen and former 
Mayor, on Market street, between Fifth and Sixth streets; the second brick 
building in Louisville was erected by Mr. Eastin, north side of Main, below 
Fifth; and the third by Mr. Reed, at the northwest corner of Main and Sixth 
In July, 1790, the Kentucky Convention met, and during the month of 
December succeeding. Gen. Washington brought before Congress the subject of 
the admission of Kentucky as a State, and on the 14th of February in the next 
year (1791), the long-sought boon was granted. The ensuing December was 
chosen as the date of election for the framers of a Constitution for the new 
State, and in April, 1792, that instrument was prepared, and Kentucky took 
her position among her sister States — the first-born of the Republic. 

In 1797 we get the first clearly established estimate of the town of Louis- 
ville. In the records of the Board of Trustees the list of taxes occurs. Thesf 
were assessed on the third day of July, " on all who reside within the limits of 
the half acre lots," and one Dr. Hall was appointed assessor and collector. 
Here is his list of assessments: 

£ s. d 

50 horses, at Gf?. per head 15 

65 negroes, at Is. per head 3 5 

2 billiard tables, at 20s. each 2 

5 tavern licenses, at 6s. each 1 10 

5 retail stores, at 10s. each 2 10 

Carriages, G wheels, at 2s. per wheel 12 

Town lots, at 6d per 100 £, is 8 13 6 

80 tithables, at 3s. each 12 

Making a total of. £31 15 6 

This year the office of Falls Pilot was created, and a fee of §2 per boat 
allowed the pilot for his services. 

During the year 1778, the Assembly passed an act allowing the formation of 
fire companies, by any number of persons exceeding forty, who should record 
their names and subscriptions in the county court. 

A Lodge of A. Y. Masons was organized here in 1801, being the first in the 
place, and called Abraham's Lodge. Clarke Lodge, named in honor of Gen. 
George Rogers Clarke, was the second, and was chartered in 1817. The first 
Royal Arch Chapter received its warrant and commenced its operations in 1818. 

The year 1800 found Louisville with a population of 800 souls; and the 
same year an act was passed setting aside the sum of £25 from the annual tax. 
to be appropriated toward the building of a Market House on the public ground 
in said town. This act also placed the harbor of Reargrass entirely under the 
direction of the Trustees. The prices of half acre lots at this time, on the 
principal streets, ranged from seven to fourteen hundred dollars. The next 



HISTORY OF LOUISVILLE. 15 

year the Market IIouj:e act was repealed, because there was no public ground to 
build it on; the Trustees having sold every foot of land originally set apart for 
commons, market houses, &c., &c. A new act was now passed, enjoining upon 
the Trustees "to fix upon some proper place, such as shall seem most con- 
venient to the inhabitants of the town, and there erect a suitable Market 
House." They fixed the location, as every body knows, in the middle of one 
of the principal streets. Shame on this suicidal policy — it will be regretted 
by generations yet unborn. But for this singular and unwise policy of the 
Trustees, we would now have the handsomest city in the world. Ample grounds 
for parks, public buildings, lawns, and commons, were reserved in the original 
survey, but ere the people were aware of it, they were all swept from the map 
of the town, and tlie market houses had to be placed in the middle of a fine 
central avenue. Their unwise and illegal action iu this matter will astonish 
our readers. Such want of regard for the future welfare of the city may well 
excite surprise. As an instance of the utter recklessness of the Trustees in 
regard to public grounds, we quote the fact, that "a half acre lot on Main 
street, near Fourth, was disposed of by their order, at public auction, for a 
horse valued at twenty dollars." "When it was ascertained that all the public 
grounds had been disposed of, there was general dissatisfaction, but it was of no 
avail. The same worthy author, to whom we are so much indebted, scolds the 
Trustees roundly, but it was too late, the deed was done, there was no remedy. 

In 1802, the town of Jeffersonville, on the opposite side of the river, above 
the Falls, was established. This is now a fine, flourishing little city, and 
promises to be still more important. The Indiana State prison is located there. 

In 1803, the town of Shipping-port was laid out. This place once promised 
to rival Louisville, but the opening of the canal entirely removed the business 
from it. 

In 1810, Dr. H. McMurtry, in his Sketches of Louisville, says of Jefferson- 
ville: "It contains a market house, a land ofiice, court house, and a private 
bank, named the "Exchange Bank of Indiana" — J. Bigelow, President. 
About a mile from the town are several valuable springs, mineralized by sulphur 
and iron, where a large and commodious building has been erected by the pro- 
prietor for the reception of those who seek relief either from physical indispo- 
sition, their own thoughts, or the disagreeable atmosphere of cities during the 
summer season; in a word, he is preparing a watering-place, to which there is 
nothing objectionable but its proximity to Louisville; its being so near, requires 
neither equipage nor the expenses of a journey to arrive there, things abso- 
lutely required to render every place of the kind perfectly a la mode. It is, 
however, one of the most powerful natural chalybeate waters I have ever seen 
or tasted, and will, no doubt, prove very serviceable in many complaints, parti- 
cularly in that debility attended with profusely cold sweats, which are constantly 
experienced by the convalescent victim of a bilious fever." 

In the year 1804, an Act of Assembly invested the Trustees with power to 
levy a sum not exceeding eight hundred dollars for repairing the street*. 

During this year, Mr. F. Gumming, a European traveler, visited Louisville, 
and thus states his impressions of the place: "I had thought Cincinnati one of 
the most beautiful towns I had seen in America, but Louisville, which is almost 
as large, equals it in beauty, and in the opinion of many, exceeds it. It was 
considered as unhealthy, which impeded its progress until three or four years 
ago, when, probably in consequence of the country being more opened, bilious 
complaints ceased to be so frequent, and it is now considered by the inhabi- 
tants as healthy as any town on the river. There is a market house, where is 
a good market every \\'ednesday and Saturday. Great retail business is done 
here, and much produce shipped to New Orleans." 



16 HISTORY OF LOUISVILLE. 

In ISOG six keel boats and two barges, the one of tliirty tons, belonging to 
Reed, of Cincinnati, the other of forty tons, owned by Instoue, of Frankfort, 
t-ufficed for the carrying trade of Louisville and iShippingport. The following 
year, 18U7, we lind the first mention of a newspaper being published in Louis- 
ville. It was called The Farmers Library. There is no record of its origin or 
ownership, however, and it is known only from an act of Assembly requiring 
certain laws to be published in its columns. Its bare mention is all that is left 
to posterity. 

In order to show the progress of the town since 1797, a period of ten year,-, 
we give the tax list fur 1807. It will be recollected that the entire list of 1797 
jiuiounted to 31£ los. dd. The list for this year, as shown by the Assessor's 
books, was: 

874,000 value of lots at 10 per cent §740 00 

113 white tythes at 50c 50 50 

82 black tythes over 10 years, at 25c 20 50 

83 black tythes under 10 years, at 12^-c 10 38 

11 retail stores, at S5 55 00 

3 tavern licenses, at $2 6 00 

30 carriage wheels, at 12ic. per wheel 3 75 

2 billiard tables, at 82 50 5 00 

131 horses, at 12^c. per head 10 37^ 

Total S913 50J- 

The first theater in Louisville was built in 1808, and "was but little better 
than a barn," until 1818, when it fell into the hands of Mr. Drake, who made 
of it "a handsome brick building, of three stories, and fitted it up with a degree 
of taste that did honor to its proprietor. It stood on the North side of Jeifer- 
son street, between Third and Fourth, and was destroyed by fire in 1843.'' 

In October or November, 1810, The Western Courier, a weekly newspaper, 
was commenced by Nicholas Clark. About the same time The Louisville Correi-- 
jiondent, was i.ssued, and was edited by Col. E. C. Barry. Of the former, Mann 
Uutler was Associate Editor for a short time. The first regular police officers 
were appointed in the year 1810. They were two in number, John Ferguson 
and Edward Bowler, and their salaries were $250 each per annum. The same 
year a Courthouse was commenced on a large square bounded by Fiftli, Seventh, 
Market and Jcfierson streets. This building was of brick, built after a plan 
drawn by John Gwathmey, and was finished in 1811. Dr. McMurtry said of it 
in 1819: "It is generally allowed to be the handsomest structure of the kind in 
the Western country. The present jail occupies the site where it stood. 

In October, 1811, the greatest event for the Western country that ever occur- 
red, took place. This was the commencement of steamboat navigation. Ful- 
ton's steamboat, called the "New Orleans," left Pittsburg at the above date, 
and "late at night, on the fourth day after quitting Pittsburg, she arrived in 
safety at Louisville, having been but seventy hours descending upwards of 
seven hundred miles. The novel appearance of the vessel, and the fearful ra- 
pidity with which it made its passage over the broad reaches of the river, excited 
a mixture of terror and surprise among many of the settlers on the banks, whom 
the rumor of such an invention had never reached; and it is related that on the 
unexpected arrival of the boat before Louisville, in the course of a fine, still, 
moonlight night, the extraordinary sound which filled the air as the pent up 
steam Avas suffered to escape from the valves on rounding to, produced a general 
alarm, and multitudes in the town rose from their beds to ascertain the cause. 
I have heard that the general imprcs.sion among the Kcntuckians was, that tht; 
comet had fallen into the Ohio. But this does not rest upon the same founda- 



HISTORY OF LOUISVILLE. 17 

lion as the other facts which I hiy before you, and which, I may at once say, I 
liad directly from the lips of the parties themselves." — Latrobes Rambks in 
America. 

December 10th, 1811, at fifteen minutes past two o'clock at night, came the 
first of those fearful earthquakes which threatened to destroy the town, and 
which continued at intervals for four months. They carried consternation to all 
hearts, and during the whole term of their continuance there was little leisure or 
disposition for business. In this same year, (1811), the first Church edifice was 
built. It was a Catholic cliapel, built by Rov. Mr. Badin, on a lot given by Mr. 
Tarascon, near the corner of Eleventh and Main streets. 

About the beginning of the year 1812, the first incorporated bank in Louis- 
ville was opened. It was a branch of the Bank of Kentucky, and had a capital 
of one hundred thousand dollars. It was situated on the north side of Main 
street near Fifth, and was under the direction of Thomas Prather, President, 
and John Bustard, Cashier. During the same year the first iron foundry was 
established by Mr. Paul Skidmore. It was in this year that, by order of the 
Legislature, Main street was paved from Third street to Sixth, at the expense 
of the owners of lots i'ronting on said street. This was the first paved street in 
Louisville, at least that wc can find any record of. About this time a second 
Church was built, being the first Protestant place of worship in the town. It 
was built on the north side of Market street, between Seventh and Eighth, and 
was under the direction of the Methodists, but was opened for the ministers of 
all denominations, being erected by the subscriptions of all the citizens. It wa» 
soon found to be too small to accommodate the growing population of the towc^ 
and was accordingly sold and converted into a dwelling, and is still standing. 
The Fourth Street Methodist Church was built, in 1815, with the proceeds of 
the sale. It was built on Fourth street, between Market and Jefferson, on the 
oast side, and adjoining the alley. The present fine block, built and owened by 
Mr. Wm. Love, occupies the ground where the old Fourth street Church for- 
merly stood. 

In 1814 the town of Portland was laid out by Alexander Ralston, for William 
Lytle, the proprietor. It is handsomely laid out with wide streets and large 
roomy lots, and since its incorporation into the city of Louisville, it has been 
greatly improved, being the landing for all the large boats in low water. Du- 
ring the same year the town of New Albany, opposite to Portland, in Indiana, 
was laid out by its proprietors, the Messrs. Scribner. It is now a flourishing 
and pretty little city, with many advantages, which will always make it a place 
of importance. It is, and has been for many years, a most important point for 
steamboat building, equal perhaps to any other on the Ohio river. An old his- 
torian says, what we regard as very praiseworthy of its excellent citizens, viz : 
'•that they are all either Methodists or Presbyterians." May they continue to 
be worthy of such noble distinction. New Albany and Louisville are bo identi- 
fied in business and in interest that what effects the one eflfects the other; and 
the same remark is true of Jeifersonville, at the head of tho Falls. In fact these 
two pretty and thriving little cities bid fair to meet, some day, on the Indiana 
side, as Louisville, Portland and Shippingport have already done on the Ken- 
tucky side. Tho time will come when the whole country around the Falls, on 
both sides, will be one vast city, with the Ohio running through it ; and even that- 
will be spanned by connecting bridges. The many advantages of this localitv 
will not fail to concentrate people and capital until this will be realized. During 
this same year, (1814), Messrs. Jacob and Hikes put in operation a paper mill 
at this place. The Western Courier was issued on paper made at this mill. 

The following list will give an accurate idea of the size, commerce and manu- 
facturcB of Louisville at the commencement of the year 1815: Twenty-four 



1$ HISTORY OF LOUISVILLE. 

mercantile stores, one book store, one auction and commission store, one cloth- 
ing store, one leather store, one drug store, one plane maker, one carding and 
spinning factory, one tin shop, four bazaars, four ropewalks, four High Schools, 
one theater, two taverns, (inferior to none in the AVestcrn country, and several 
others of less note), five medicine shops, eight boot makers, four cabinet makers, 
two coach makers, one gunsmith, one silversmith, two printing offices, one soap 
factory, one air foundry, four bakers, two tobacco factories, six brick yards, one 
tan yard, three house painters, four chair makers, five tailors, five hatters, five 
saddlers, two coppersmiths, one steam saw mill, one nail factory, six blacksmiths, 
one brewery, one bagging factory, one stoneware factory, one Methodist church, 
one Catholic chapel. 

It was on the first of June of this year, 1815, that the steamboat Enterprise. 
Capt. Shreve, arrived from New Orleans, having made the trip in twenty-five 
days. This trip was the subject of general remark and congratulation. "On 
Monday the 3d day of July, 1816, was safely launched from her stocks, at the 
mouth of Beargrass, the elegant new steamboat Gov. Shelby," the first that wan 
ever built at this place. She was of one hundred and twenty-two tons burden. 
Messrs. Desmarie & McClary were her builders. The same year the great 
"Hope Distillery" company was organized, with a capital of one hundred thou- 
sand dollars. This company purchased one hundred acres of ground at the 
lower end of Main street, and erected immense buildings thereon. These build- 
ings were finally burned. The Louisville Library company was also incorpor- 
ated this year. 

A branch of the Bank of the United States was located here in 1817, Stephen 
'Ormsby, President; William Cochran, Cashier; G. C. Gwathmey, Teller; Alfred 
Thruston, First Book keeper. It was situated at the northeast corner of Fifth 
and Main streets. There was erected this year a third Church, being the second 
Protestant church in the place. This was the Presbyterian church, situated on 
.the west side of Fourth street, between Jefierson and Market, Rev. D. C. Banks 
was the first pastor. This church was burned down in 1836. In its belfry wa* 
hung the first church bell that ev.er waked the echoes of this valley. Even yet, 
many well remember the sweet tones of that "Church-going bell." Another 
event of this year was the incorporation of a Hospital company. Mr. Thomas 
Prather contributed five, and Mr. Cuthbort Bullitt two acres of land, as a sit« 
for the Institution. It was supported by a duty of two per cent, on auction 
sales in Louisville. It is a commodious building, surrounded with spacious 
grounds, and situated on Chestnut street, between Preston and East. During 
the same year, April 27, 1817, a dinner was given to Capt. H. M. Shreve, as a 
testimonial of the estimation in which he was held as a steamboat navigator, and 
to congratulate him on the expeditious voyage he had made to New Orleans and 
back. This voyage was made by the steamer Washington, and was performed 
in forty-five days! In May, 1818, a sugar refinery was established by Messrs. 
Maltz & Jacobson. They produced about three hundred loaves of refined sugar 
per day. 

We present the following prices current, published in 1818: Bagging, 30c; 
•-•otton, 33@35c; wheat, 60@75c; coflPee, 35@37c; teas, 82:25@2:50; whisky, 
62@75c; glass, 8 >< 10, §14@15; white lead, 86; corn, 42@62c; molasses, §1:50; 
tobacco, ?4:75@5; sugar, 16@18c; oats, 42@50c. Freiqhts — Tobacco Ic ^ lb; 
flour $1:50 ^ bbl; pork and whisky «2 f^ bbl; light freight 6c f, tb; heavy 
. t reiglit 4Ac ^ ft. 

Some attention had been paid to education, for Dr. McMurtry informs us in 
1819, that there was a capacious brick Seminary, under the direction of the 
Trustees of the town at that time, wherein were taught the several branches 
of a regular and classical education. 



HISTORY OF LOUISVILLE. 19 

In 1818 the Legislatur'* passed an act incorporating the "President and Pi- 
rectors of the Louisville Insurance Company," with a capital of §100,000, not 
to be increased beyond §200,000. Thomas I'rathor, President. 

By the assessment of 1818, the value of lots in the town is computed at 
S3, 131,463. This year another IJank was established here. It was the Com- 
mercial Bank of Louisville. Its capital was §100,000. Levi Tyler, Pi-esident; 
A. Bayless, Cashier; J. C. Blair, Clerk. On the first of July, of this year, Mr. 
S. Pcnn commenced the publication of TTic Public Advertiser^ a paper which for 
vcditorial talent and skill, as well as for political influence, has been equalled by 
few in the United States. 

In 1819 Dr. Henry McMurtry published his "Sketches of Louisville." This 
work, to which we are deeply indebted for this "brief outline," is now out of 
print. It is valuable on account of the many facts which it furnishes, and 
which can now be found no where else. The Dr. says: "There are at this time 
in Louisville six hundred and seventy dwelling houses, principally brick ones, 
some of which would suffer little by being compared with any of the most 
elegant private edifices of Philadelphia or New York. The population now 
amounts to four thousand five hundred souls." 

The following list will show the progress of the town for four years, the time 
since the last we gave: Three banks; three book stores; one nail factory ; two 
hotels; ten blacksmiths; eight tailors; three watchmakers; one stone cutter; 
four turners; thirty plasterers; twelve lawyers; six brickyards; two brewei-ie:= , 
one music store; thirty-six wholesale and retail stores; three printing offices; 
twenty-eight groceries; four good taverns; six saddlers; one silver-plater; ten 
cabinet makers; one iipholsterer; five hatters; six shoe makers; twenty-two 
doctors; one air foundry; two steam saw mills; two tobacco factories; fourteen 
wholesale and commission stores; three drug stores; two confectionaries; six 
bakeries; two carriage makers ; one gunsmith; three chair factories ; one potter; 
two hundred carpenters; one hundred and fifty bricklayers; one brass foundry ; 
one steam engine shop ; two distilleries ; one sugar refinery. 

In the year 1820 several fire-engines were purchased, and the town laid ofi" 
into three wards, and Coleman Daniel, Daniel McAllister and Peter Woolford 
were appointed, one to each ward, to obtain forty members each to work the 
engines. This was the origin of our fire department. 

In 1824 and '25 the first Episcopal Church was built on Second street, 
between Green and Walnut. Rev. Mr. Shaw, Rector. It is the present 
Chri.st Church. 

On the 12th of January, 1825, the Louisville and Portland Canal Company 
was incorporated, with a capital of §600,000. The canal was completed and 
opened for navigation on the 5th of December, 1830. It cost §750,000. We 
here give the dimensions of this canal : it is two miles long, lacking two rods, 
sixty feet wide at the water line above the locks, and the locks are fifty feet 
wide by two hundred long, they will chamber a boat one hundred and eighty- 
two feet long and forty-nine and a half wide. There are three locks of eight 
and a half feet lift each, and one guard lock, also a gate at the head of the canal 
to shut off the water when necessary. The depth of water in the canal at low 
water mark is thirty inches, at high water mark it is forty-two feet at the 
head of the canal and sixty-four at the foot. The average depth of the exca- 
vation is thirty-three feet. It is expected that the canal will be widened and 
lengthened in 1859, so as to pass boats of the largest class. It will be from 
thirty-five to forty feet wider, and a quarter of a mile longer, to offord room for 
the large new locks. The present locks will remain as they are, for the use of 
small boats, the new ones being in a position southwest of them, on a cut taken 
out just above the present guard lock. 




is^ls^^s^^^^ 



HISTORY OF LOUISVILLE, 21 

In 182G another paper was established here, which was called The Focus. 
edited by Dr. Buchanan, assisted by Mr. W. W. Worsley, and published weekly 
by Morton & Co. "It was conducted with srreat ability until the death of Dr. 
Buchanan, when it was sold to Messrs. J. T. Cavins and G. S. Robinson. It 
was afterwards merged into The Louisville Journal, and placed, under the name 
of The Journal and Focus, in the hands of George D. Prentice as editor. This 
ohancre took place in 1832. Since that time the Journal is too well known in 
11 the reading world to need any further notice." 

By the census of 1827, we find the population to be 70G3, nearly double 
what it was in 1821. 

On the 3d day of Nov. 1827, the citizens held a meeting for the purpose, and 
memorialized the Legislature to incorporate Louisville and her enlargements, a 
city; and on the loth of February 1828, the act of incorporation passed, and 
Louisville became a city. The first election under this charter, was held on the 
+th day of March 1828; Mr. J. C. Bucklin was elected Mayor; W. A. Cocke, 
Marshal; and Messrs. John M. Talbott, W. D. Tayne, G. W. Merriwcathcr. 
Richard Hall, James Harrison, J. McGilly Cuddy, John Warren, Elisha Apple- 
gate, Daniel 3IcAllistcr, and Fred. Turner, Councilmen. Samuel Dickinson, 
was appointed Clerk. It was during this year that the first city Schoolhousc 
v.as built. It occupied the South-west corner of Walnut and Fifth streets, and 
was for that day, a large and creditable building. It could accommodate from 
700 to 800 children, and was divided into male and female departments. Thi> 
was the foundation of our present most admirable system of city schools, which 
'will receive due attention in another part of this work. 

The population of the city in 1830 was 10,336 souls. This year the JJaih/ 
Journal was established. 

Tu the year 1832, on the 27th of May, the first Unitarian Church was dedica- 
ted. It is on the corner of Walnut and Fifth streets, and is a neat and commo- 
dious building. Rev. George Chapman, of Massachusetts, was the first pastor. 
It was in this year that the Louisville Hotel was built. The first city Directory 
ever printed here, was issued during this year, by R. W. Otis. It contained much 
valuable matter; and from it we get a table of imports from Dec. 1, 1831, to 
\ug. -4, 1832, as follows: Flour, 48,470 barrels; bale rope, 26,830 coils; bag- 
i;in2:, 33.411 pieces; china &c., 1,170 packages; coiFee, 18,289 bags; cotton, 4,- 
913 bales; mackerel, 12,037 bbls.; salt, 16,729 bis.; salt, Turk's Island, 18,14t. 
bags; tea. 63,500 pounds; hides, 19,191; iron, 631 tons; lead, 231 tons; molasses. 
<;.309bbls.; nails, 10,395 kegs; sugar, N. O., 7,717 hhds; sugar, loaf, 4,318 bbls.; 
tin plate, 3,108 boxes. 14,627 barrels of whisky were inspected during the same 
time. Of manufactories, Louisville then had 1 woolen mill, 1 cotton factory, 2 
potteries, 1 flour mill, 2 foundries, 16 brick yards, 1 pinning mill, 3 breweries, 2 
white lead factories, and 4 rope walks. The Bank of Louisville was chartered 
this year, and §1, 500, 000 subscribed to the capital stock in three days. A Mu-, 
~eum was also opened by a number of gentlemen as stockholders, under the 
lirection of Mr. J, R. Lambdin. A Saving's Bank was established under the 
direction of Edward Crow, President, and E. D. Hobbs, Treasurer. 

In 1835 the Gait House was erected ; and the first movement made towards 
lighting the city with gas. A census taken this year shows a population of 
19.967, givincT an increase of nearly one hundred per cent, in five years, that 
of 1830 being but 10,336. 

The amount of goods sold in 1836 by forty-seven of the largest wholesale 
dry goods and grocery houses, is officially stated at 812,128,666. Two more 
newspapers were added to the list in the city this year, Louisville City Gazette 
a daily published by John J. & Jas. B. Marshall, and the Weglcrn Messenger, a 



22 HISTORY OF LOUISVILLE. 

monthly, by Rev. J. F. Clark. It was in this same year that Pprtland was 
added to the limits of the city. 

The Medical department of the Louisville University was organized also, 
during this period. The city set apart four acres of ground and the sum of 
850,000 in money for its use, and thus organized a Medical School, of which 
Messrs. Caldwell, Cook, Cobb, Flint, Yandell, Miller, and Lock, were the Pro- 
fessors. In February 1837, the corner-stone of the building for this use was 
laid, and soon after Dr. Flint, with money appropriated for that purpose, visited 
Kurope, and purchased a fine library and apparatus for the institution. This 
.^ehool soon attained a very high reputation, and ranked among the first in the 
United States. 

In 1838 the Railroad to Portland was opened for travel. 

The principal event of 1839 was the lighting of the city with gas. This was 
done by a company established by charter, having a capital of 81,200,000. The 
city is better lighted than any in the United States, if not in the world. 

The "great fire" occurred in 18-40, which consumed thirty houses, and des- 
troyed property to the amount of 8300,000. 

in 1845, Mr. N. P. Poor compiled a new Directory of the city. From this 
book we learn that the population in September 1845, was 37,218 souls. Of 
these, 32,G02 were whites, 560 free blacks, and 4,056 slaves. The increase is 
thus shown to amount to 16,008 in five years, the census of 1840 having shown 
21,210 souls. There were 12 large foundries for the construction of steam 
machinery, 1 large rolling mill, 2 steam bagging factories, 6 cordage and rope 
factories, 1 cotton factory, 1 woolen factory, 4 flouring mills, 4 lard oil factories. 
1 white lead factory, 3 potteries, 6 tobacco stemmeries, 2 glass cutting establish- 
ments, 1 oil cloth factory, 2 surgical instrument makers, 2 lithographic presses. 
1 paper mill, 1 star candle factory, 4 pork houses which will slaughter and p;ick 
about 70,000 hogs annually, 3 piano forte manufactories, 3 breweries, 8 brick 
yards, 1 ivory black maker, 6 tanneries, 2 tallow rendering houses, 8 soap and 
candle factories, 3 planing machines, 2 scale factories, 2 glue factories, 3 ship 
yards, and several factories of less note. 

About this time, the Louisville and Frankfort Railroad was opened The 
enterprise had been a subject of much interest for several years; many surveys 
had been made, and a good deal of work done, but after languishing between 
hope and dispair, the city came to the rescue, and carried it to completion, by 
subscribing one million of dollars, which was paid by a tax of one per cent, for 
four years on all real estate within her limits, and this tax was re-paid to the 
owners in stock of the Company. 

The completion of this important road, marked the beginning of a more lib- 
eral and public spirited policy in the history of Louisville. And in the year 
1851 the great work of building a railroad from this city to Nashville, Tennes- 
see, was commenced. The city subscribed 8500,000 to begin with, which was 
subsequently followed by a second subscription of 81,000,000. This great work 
was temporarily retarded for a year or two, but such was its importance that it 
(juickly recovered, and is now rapidly approaching completion. A])Out 100 miles 
of the road is now completed, and it is expected the cars will run through to 
MTashville, by December of this year. It is doubtless, one of the most important 
roads in the western country. Besides the fact of its termini being two very 
important cities — centers of a very heavy business — it runs the whole distance 
through a most fertile country, thickly settled by a thrifty and intelligent popu- 
lation. It is in fact, the tobacco field of this tobacco growing State. It also 
abounds in grain and pork, and we may add, in iron ore of the best quality, 
much of which, in the form of superior pig metal, is now being received over 
the road almost daily. Moreover, it is the connecting link between the north 



HISTORY OF LOUISVILLE. 23 

era and southern systems of railroads, being by fur the most eligible road in 
this respect in the country; nor is there a probability of its having any rival 
The network of railroads with which it connects at either end, extending over 
the country in every direction, is wonderful. 

In 185:i the city loaned her credit to the amount of $200,000 to the Jeffer- 
sonville and Indianapolis Railroad. This has proved to be a very valuable road 
to Louisville. About the same time, the New Albany and Salem road, extend 
ing to the Lakes, was constructed, and it is also of vast benefit tu Louisville. 

In 1853 the Lebanon branch of the Louisville and Nashville Eailroad wad 
commenced. To this road the city loaned her credit to the amount of §225,000. 
It was finished in 1858, and is a worthy exhibition of the enterprise of those 
who brought it into being. It runs through a ine country, and terminates in 
a beautiful thriving town, the center of one of the prettiest regions of Southern 
Kentucky. As far as it goes, it is in the direct line to Knoxville, Tennessee, 
and will no doubt be continued on ultimately to that point. 

In 1858, the Memphis branch of the Louisville and Nashville Ptailroad was 
commenced, the city voting §300,000 to this enterprise. "When completed, it 
will be fully equal in importance, it is believed, to the main trunk. It is now 
under contract, and will be pushed on as fast as possible to completion. The 
country through which it runs abounds in wealth, and numerous populous 
and wealthy towns are also on the line, such as Bowling Green, llusscllville, 
Clarksyille, and others of less note. 

The Barren County branch of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, is 
another important road commenced within the last two years, and now approach- 
ing completion. It is to run to Glasgow, the County seat of Barren County, a 
very pretty and pleasant town, and center of a vast agricultural region, of which 
tobacco, corn, wheat, and pork, are articles largely exported. 

The Bardstown branch of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad is another 
road running to the pretty and thriving village of this name. It is in the 
midst of a very wealthy and beautiful country, has numerous male and femali; 
schools, and is a town of as much business as any place of its population in 
Kentucky. The grading of this road is now completed, and the track will be 
laid in a few months. When all these roads are completed, as they will bo in 
one or two years, the efiieot must be to benefit Louisville immensely. But we 
must not let the bright prospect of the early completion of these important 
roads, cause us to overlook the Shelbyville branch of the Louisville and Frank 
fort Railroad. This road was commenced some time ago, but during the pres- 
sure it was suspended. Lately it has been revived, and as fully half the work 
has been done, and its importance is now greater than ever, it will, we have no 
doubt, be speedily completed. It runs through a country abounding in wealth, 
and as an agricultural district, hardly surpassed by any in the United States. 
Shelbyville, its eastern terminus, is one of the most important literary towns in 
the western country. The town is the County seat of Shelby County, and being 
one of the very best and largest Counties in the State, its trade must provo 
immensely important to this city. 

The city Water Works was commenced in 1857, and it is expected to furnish 
water to the city by the end of the present year. See article on Water Works 

We here close our brief sketch of the history of Louisville, and refer tht; 
reader to the subse(juent articles in this volume, for a better understanding of 
the progress of the city up to this date. 

V»r most of the fa'-ts cuntaiiiod in this historioAl sketch, wp arc iivlehted to Dr. H. McMiirtryV " Skotchos of 
I.oiiisvillo," imblinhol in ISlit, anil to "'fh<> History of Louisville," by Ben Casoeday, Esq Mr. Ciuwcday's work 
wds prepared with niiioli labor and care, and contains matter of great interest. Wo thankfully ivcknowledgo our 
obligations for liiri kindnesx, and would say to th« reader who would see a more complete history of Loiu:ivillc, get 
>lr. C.'a valuable history auJ read it. 



■mi 



'^7 




GEOGEAPHICAL POSITION OF LOUISVILLE. 25 

GEOGRAPHICAL POSITIO^^ OF LOUISVILLE. 

Ever since the white man first set foot in the valley of the Ohio, the <iCo- 
graphical position of Louisville has made it a marked point, and it is rightly 
regarded as tlio central city of the finest country in the world. AVhen the citi- 
zens of the then territory of California memorialized Congress to admit them 
into the Union as a State, they entered into a description of that territory as 
compared with the two other grand divisions of the country. They spoke of 
the beauty and value of the eastern slope of the Allegheny mountain.«, then of 
the western slope of the Rocky mountains, and showed that the latter is pre- 
ferable to the former; but then casting a glance at the broad and I'crtile valley 
of the i\Iississippi, lying between the two, they frankly acknowledge that it is 
far superior to either, and declare that it is the '-best home God ever made for 
man." We believe this accords with the judgment of all beholders. And surely 
if we consider it in regard to its extent, its fertility, its climate, the abundance 
and variety of its products and minerals, we shall be struck with the justice of 
the remark. Here is a country of such vast extent that the mind is bewildered 
that undertakes to admeasure it, and we feel lost in the contemplation of its 
capabilities. Already twelve great and powerful States are carved out of this 
vast valley, besides large portions of several others, and no one yet knows how 
many more equally important will bo constituted in the same valley. It is tlie 
*' manifest destiny" of this valley to become the mighty center of the popula- 
tion, wealth, and resources of North America, and iiltimately of the world. In 
lact, it would seem that Divine Wisdom created and held in reserve, until the 
full development of the human mind, this vast theater on which to display the 
mightiest achievements of disenthralled humanity. The time having arrived in 
the progress of the race for God to '■'-enlarge Jajjheth" and cause him to ^^dictll in 
the tents of Shem" he dispossessed the worthless and savage Shemetie tribes who 
would not "subdue the land and possess it," and gave it to the white race. 
Pent up, and cramped by unkindly institutions and W'ant of territory in the Old 
World, God here invites Japheth to "walk abroad and view the land," as ho did 
Abraham of old, that the boundlessness of the prospect, untold wealth of re- 
source, and grandeur of the scene, might stimulate him to put forth, for the 
first time, the full, free, and vigorous powers, mental, moral, and physical, witli 
which He has endowed him. If we are astonished at the greatness and the ra- 
pidity of the achievements of the white race in this valley, let us devoutly 
recognize the hand of God in it, as effecting, by His providence, through the 
agency of man, the mightiest achievements, mental, moral, and physical, that 
the world ever saw. If the number, growth, and wealth of western cities, towns 
and villages, sends a thrill through Europe, let us not wonder at their astonish- 
ment, or even incredulity, for we ourselves cannot keep pace with them. 

We have no sympathy with those who charge our government with the com- 
mission of wrongs against the "poor Indian," while God, who made, and 
consequently owns the world, is "making the wilderness glad and the desert 
blossom as the rose." Do they imagine that the great Maker of all looks down 
with less pleasure upon our thousand cities, ten thousands of churches, school- 
houses and benevolent institutions, than he did upon the senseless and savage, 
the idle and dirty Indians? IIow irrational, ii-reverent, and unthankful such a 
belief But while we rejoice in the rich legacy thus graciously given us, and ar 
the strange and glorious providence which has developed these mighty results 
in so brief a period, let us sacredly cherish the Cod-honoring institutions, civil 
and religious, under which we have achieved them, and which Cod so manifestly 
approves. 

Now, if we compare one part of this vast country called the Mississippi valley 



26 GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OF LOUISVILLE. 

witli another, we think it will appear that the valley of the Ohio is the choice 
portion of the whole. It is better watered, better timbered, and has a much 
better climate than the valley of the Mississippi proper, north-west of it. 

Moreover, the recent analytical comparison of soils, made by Professor Peter, 
of the Geological Survey of Kentucky, establishes the fact that our soil is better 
than that of the prairies of the new States bordering on the Mississippi river. 
To give the reader a correct idea of the superiority of our soil we quote the 
language of Dr. Peter: 

" The analysis of the prairie soil of the northern part of Illinois was intro- 
duced for the purpose of comparison with the soils of Kentucky. The specimen 
analyzed was collected by the writer himself, in October, 1855. Notwithstand- 
ing the luxuriance of the growth of the first crops on the prairie soil, occasioned 
partly by the large amount of available nourishing matter aflbrded by the decay 
of the thick sod, it is evident, from the above analysis, that, taking into con- 
sideration durahiUti/ as well as immediate fertility/, as ascertained by the chemical 
analysis of the soil itself, apart from the sod, there are many of our Kentucky 
soils — which take the second rank when compared with those of the blue grass 
region — which yet are fully equal to the prairie soil." '■^- * * ^•- ="•- ^ * 

"Compared with the first rate soil of Kentucky, that of the prairies contains 
a much smaller proportion of alumina and oxide of iron, as well as oi' lime, mag- 
nesia, pliosplioric acid, and alkalies. It contains a much larger amount of fine 
sand, and doubtless a larger proportion of coarser sand than our best soils ; and. 
therefore, whilst its large quantity of organic matters is held in the soil with a 
small force of attraction, (because of the large proportion which the sand and 
silica bear to the alumina a7id oxide of iron), and hence they are readily soluble 
and immediately available in the production of luxuriant crops; these very cir- 
cumstances will cause its more speedy exhaustion ; and when this accumulated 
deposit has been consumed by thriftless husbandry this soil must sink down to 
a second rate position." See Picport Geological Survey of Kentucky, vol. 2 pp. 
2SG, 287. 

From the above it is clear that the vast and beautiful country, of which 
Louisville is the central city and commercial emporium, is the richest agricul- 
tural region on the Continent. Located in the center of the valley of the Ohio, 
she is in constant and easy communication with every part of it, comprising 
seven great States; and by means of the Ohio and Mississippi and their tribu- 
taries, with twelve of the largest producing States of America, besides several 
territories not yet organized into States. It requires no prophetic vision to see 
that these great States must soon become, if they are not already, the glory and 
strength of the nation. They have the soil from which to feed and clothe the 
world, and the timber and minerals to supply any demand, while the climate 
is salubrious and adapted to the growth of all the necessaries and nearly all the 
luxuries of life. As regards geographical position, therefore, no city is or can 
be better located inland than Louisville. But this important truth is suscepti- 
ble of still further proof. There are, south and south-east of Louisville, six 
most important and powerful States not embraced in the Mississippi valley, nor 
previously noticed in this article, which, owing to their being nearer to us than 
to any other of the great cities of the valley, and also in consequence of our 
position and relations to the South, are in the relation of most important and 
valuable customers to Louisville. All these great sugar, cotton, and rice grow- 
ing States are our neighbors, yea, our kindred; and though we have long been 
separated by the absence of' convenient and speedy transportation, yet soon we 
shall be fraternally bound to them with bands of iron. Our great railroad will. 
in a few months, connect with theirs, and convey us to their sunny plains and 
they to our work-shops and provision houses. Every hour our rails arc beiug 



GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OF LOUISVILLE. 27 

extended towards theiu, and we wait impatiently to shake hands with them and 
give them a real Kentucky welcome — to open a new and profitable trade and 
social intercourse with a noble, patriotic race, from whom most of our lathers 
.sprung. Let it be borne in mind that our road will put us in immediate con- 
nection with the whole net-work of southern railroads, enabling us to reach all 
parts of that extensive, rich, populous, and patriotic region. To show the extent 
and value of this new field of trade, we give a few facts: There are seven great 
States, not newly organized in a wild country just reclaimed, but old, wealthy, 
well organized, and powerful. They comprise a territory second in extent only 
to the valley of the Mississippi itself, reaching from Cape llatteras on the east 
to the Mississippi valley on the west, and from the State line of Kentucky on 
the north to the Florida Keys on the south. The population of this territory, 
according to the last official census-tables, was 5,272,039 ; the cash value of 
farms was S4G9,ol3,074; the value of farm products, exclusive of live stock, was 
S211,550,9-i7; and the total value of property, real and personal, §1,945,033.- 
910. The seci'etary of the treasury says, '• The valuations of property are for 
assessment purposes, and are not only low, but the taxable property only has 
been valued; and in all the States there are many kinds of property (some of 
it valuable) that are not taxed." This vast country is the cotton and rice- 
growing region of the United States; sugar is also produced in a large portion 
of it, and, as long as these great staples hold the place they do in the markets 
of the world, this will be a country of vast wealth and importance. All this 
vast and important field of trade will be new to Louisville, and if she be true to 
herself and worthy of her position and relations, she can and will retain it. 
When we consider the extent of this field, its soil, its climate, its wealth, its 
population, and the identity of their interests and institutions with our own, we 
can not fail to be struck with the almost incalculable value of it to Louisville. 
Where can they go for the thousands of engines, plantation mills, cotton-gins, 
sugar-mills, wagons, carts, plows, shovels, spades, hoes, pork, lard, bacon, beef, 
Hour, furniture, etc.. so readily as to Louisville? Entcrprize, energy, and in- 
dustry can and will bring them here for all these and a thousand other things. 
They prefer to come here rather than to go North for their supplies. Let us 
go to work with new energy, then, to meet this new demand for our manufac- 
tures. Let us emulate our northern fellow-citizens in enterprize and industry, 
in going down South and inviting trade, and in fair dealing and inducements. 
We may reasonably expect to see many southern planters here shortly, not only 
to spend the summer months, but as permanent citizens of our beautiful city. 
They can reside here and be almost within a summer day's ride of their plan- 
tations ! 

But having sketched the extent, wealth, advantages, &c., of this nrir field of 
trade, we can not omit to speak in like manner of the great field of which Lou- 
isville occupies the center. We have seen that, as regards geographical location, 
Louisville occupies the most eligible position in the west. But this fact will 
appear still more clearly by noticing the extent and value of country with 
which she is immediately surrounded. The following rivers are navigable from 
Louisville throughout their vast ramifications without transhipment, viz: Alle- 
gheny, Arkansas, Big Black, Barren, Big Sandy, Cumberland, Des Moines, 
(ireen, (irand, Ilatchee, Illinois, Iowa, Kaskaskia, Kentucky, Kanawha, La 
Mine, La Fouche, Missouri, iMerrimac, Monong-ahela, Muskingum, Mississippi, 
Ohio, Obion. Osage, Efed, Rock, Sun Flower, Tennessee, AVabash, White, Wis- 
consin, and Yazoo; and besides these, there are a multitude of Bayoua in Lou- 
i-iana and Mississippi, which extend steam navigation through several hundreds 
"f n)iles of the finest kind of sugar, cotton, and rice growing country. 

These thirty-three rivers, without the bayous, give Louisville natural avenues 



28 ' TOPOGILVPIIY. 

of commerce and trade with fifteen States, and with three hundred and forty- 
six Counties, having a j^opulation of 5,000,000 souls; and the cash value of 
their farms in 1850,\vas §601,312,410; of farm products ^218,992,007; and of 
live stock $87,413,44o; total value §907,717,8tiG. Such is the vast empire of 
population and wealth to which Louisville has access by means of river naviga- 
tion. Now if we add this to the new field, just being opened south of us, by 
railroads, and that north of us, reached by the same means, we shall have terri- 
tory and stimulus enough to satisfy the most ambitious people in the world. 

As regards access to sea-ports, no inland city is better situated than Louisville. 
She has river navigation to New Orleans; and railroad connection with Mobile. 
Pensacola, Savannah, Charleston, and other ports south, and also with all tho 
eastern cities. For all heavy goods, and such as require to be little handled, 
our noble rivers give an easy and speedy transportation to and from the ocean; 
while our lighter wares can be transported to or from any one of half a dozen 
sea-ports, in a few hours. In a word, if any city in the valley of the Missis- 
.-lippi, has advantages in this respect, Louisville has more. She is nearer to the 
ocean both by land and water, than most of her sister cities. 

Her direct connection with the lakes of the north, gives her every advantage 
that any of the western cities can claim for southern products in these regions. 
[n fact, they must of necessity look to Loui.sville for their supplies of tobacco. 
and several other articles, which are cheaper and more abundant here than at 
any other city in the Mississippi valley. 3Ioreover, Louisville occupies such u 
position that she is the half-way house between the North and the South. li' 
the people of the States north of her wish southern products, Louisville is then 
nearest and most reliable market to buy in. If those south of her wish north- 
ern products or manufoctures, Louisville is their nearest and best market tu 
purchase in. Being the half-way house, she is also the connecting link between 
the northern and southern States. From Louisville, the railroads to the north 
spread out in every direction, and her own great roads to the south put her in 
connection with every point in that direction. This is the best place to cross 
the river with a railroad bridge, or tunnel, cither, that can be found between 
Pittsburg and its mouth. At other points, the rise of the river is about 70 to 7') 
feet, here it is 40 feet, making a dilFerence of 25 to 30 feet in favor of Louisville. 
Again, the banks are correspondingly lower here than where the floods are con- 
fined to a narrow channel, and hence the approaches to the bridge or tunnel arc 
much easier; and besides this, the foundation is laid, and has stood since the 
world began; and it is so laid, that in summer it is as dry and convenient as if 
on the upland. Here, then, above all other points, ought the great connection 
to be formed between the northern and southern systems of railroads. It is 
in the direct line, possesses greater local advantages than any other place, and 
will affect river navigation less than any where else. 



TOPOGRAPHY. 

The beauty of the Ohio river struck the early French explorers so forcibly 
that they called it "Za Belle Riviere^ And its clean, pebbly, and wooded 
shores, graceful cui'ves, placid waters, and gentle current, have been celebrated 
in story and in song for two generations, and ever since the red men reluctantly 
tTirned their faces from it to find a retreat from the white race in the forests tn- 
v/ard the setting sun. The river is not more beautiful than the valley througli 
which it flows. There is, perhaps, no country in the world of equal extent. 




FIEST BAPTIST CHURCH, COBNKB WALKUT AND FOCRTH STBEKTS. 



30 TOPOGRAPHY. 

•which combines more of the elements of beauty and fertility than the valley of 
the Ohio. It is so extensive that several cireat and powerful States arc mapped 
out upon it, and several millions of inhabitants call it home. No portion of 
this vast valley is richer or more beautiful than that embraced in the State of 
Kentucky. The plains, covered at first with a variety of forest trees and cane, 
and now with a luxuriant sward of native blue grass, are among the most beau- 
tiful lands in the world. 

The scenery about Louisville, though not grand, is strikingly beautiful; and 
air, earth, and water, unite their charms in producing a landscape so beautiful 
that the eye of the beholder is at once arrested and delighted. In the notes 
appended to Mr. J. Brooks' map of the falls, made in 1806, the author says: 
'• The land in the vicinity of the rapids, on both sides of the river, is generally 
of the first ({uality, and so shaped as to afford beauty with convenience. That 
part situated within view of the rapids is hcyond description (Jeh'ghffid.'" 

Twenty miles above the city may be seen the river-hills on both sides of thf^ 
stream, and about their usual height, 300 to 400 feet above the level of the rivrr. 
A little further down, they are perceivably lower, and at Utica, eight mil*^'^ 
above Louisville, they suddenly retire from the river, on the Indiana side, and 
are seen no more until we pass below the city of New Albany, where they com'.- 
in again, presenting a bold, steep front, only a few hundred yards from the river 
bank. On the south, or Kentucky side, the hills continue in place until thoy 
reach the upper end of the city, but gradually decrease in height until, at th<' 
reservoir of the water-works, one mile above the city, they are not more than 
130 feet above the level of the river, and at the upper end of the city, they are 
nothing more than a beautiful grass-covered slope of about 50 to 75 feet above 
the plain on which the city stands, and the elevation is here called the hh^. 
Here the bluff suddenly recedes from the river, turning first nearly due south, 
thou gradually west of south, and finally sinks to the level of the plain when 
about south of the center of the city, and six or seven miles distant from the 
river. Wc see no more of the hills on this side until we go below the mouth of 
Salt river, twenty-one miles below the city. There they come in again as high 
as ever. These hills are every where composed of lime-stone, regularly stratified, 
the strata being from a few inches to two and even four feet in thickness. It is 
usually of that description called gray or magnesian lime-stone, and is exten- 
sively used for building purposes. 

The vast plain, formed by the subsidence of these river hills, is about thirty 
miles long from east to west, and nearly as wide from north to south. Through 
it, from east to west, runs the Ohio river. It is not a low, marshy bottom, but 
a high, dry plain, being 70 feet above the river; and having a sandy soil, with 
a deep bed of gravel beneath it, it is both dry and fertile. Its soil is well 
adapted to horticultural and fruit raising purposes, and some of the finest mar- 
ket gardens in the world may be seen around the city on this plain. 

Between the river and the hill, above the city, there is a beautiful plain about 
one mile wide and ten miles long, having for the most part a bold, high, and 
clean shore, and improved with farms, orchards, and dwellings. Harrod's Creek, 
a fine mill stream, coming down from a charming rich country, enters the Ohio 
through this plain, eight miles above the city. The hill back of this plain pre- 
sents a feature of great beauty, which is much enhanced by farm-hou.ses, im- 
proved grounds, and the great reservoir of the water-works. The reservoir 
crowns the top of this hill, one mile above the city, and when completed will, 
with its terraced walks, grounds, fountains, and lakes, rival Fairmount. 

From the point where the hill retires southward, at the upper end of the city, 
there runs a beautiful swell or second bank, in a straight line, down to the 
bend of the river, entirely below the falls. It is simply the termination of the 



TOPOGRAPHY. 31 

pluin on wliich the city stands, and between it and the rivor stretches a low bot- 
tom, which, as luodified by the bond of the river, is about half a mile wide at the 
upper end of the city, gradually narrows down to the center of the same, and 
then widens to nearly its fi)rnier dimensions. It is fully five miles lon^. At 
the upper or eastern end Boarirrass Creek, coming in from the south, enters it, 
and turning suddenly westward, runs along the base of the bluff, near two uuIch, 
to the foot of Fourth street, where the creek enters the river. A few years 
since the city caused a cut to be made across this bottom, and the creek to be 
conveyed in a straight line from the bluff where it first enters it into the river; 
thus providing for the filling up of the old channel, which is being done. All 
that part of this low bottom from First down to Tenth streets, where it is only 
one S({uare wide, that is, from AVater to Main streets, has been filled up and 
built over many years ago. The point, as it is called, from First street eastward, 
is rapidly being filled up and improved. Many manufacturing establishments 
and extensive wharves are already constructed there. From Tenth street, 
where the bottom begins to widen again, as we go down the river westward, 
the canal runs through it a distance of two miles parallel with the bluff, and only a 
few yards from it. This bottom is never overflov.'n except by the highest floods. 

The groat feature of this beautiful landscape is 3'et to be described, namely, 
the rivor — the beautiful Ohio. It enters the great plain already described in a 
south-west course. At Six Mile Island it makes a slight bend to the west, and 
continues thence to the head of the falls, six miles, in a straight line a little south of 
west. For a short distance immediately in front of the city, its course is due 
west, then north-west to the foot of the ialls or rapids, from thence to the lower 
end of the city of New Albany, say two miles, its course is a little south of 
west, and thence due south for a distance of two or three miles. From Six 
Mile Island to the foot of the rapids the river is nearly twice its usual width, 
being from one mile to one and a half, and is all within full view from the city 
wharf This sheet of water, eight miles long and one mile wide — the last two 
miles occupied by the falls, the only interruption of the smooth surface of the 
Ohio in all its long course — with its palace-like steamers, its beautiful shores, 
and its populous cities, is a scene not to be forgotten by him who has looked 
upon it. Seen by moon-light, when the hum of the city is hushed, and the 
roar of the rapids falls on the grateful ear, it so tranquilizes and pleases the 
senses that one can hardly tear himself away. Approaching the city by night. 
on one of our magnificent mail-steamers, the view is enchanting. We have be- 
fore us the broad river, the pretty shores with their rural loveliness, the distant 
cities on either side, and the long lines of gas-lights in front of Louisville, like 
stars in the diadem of night. It is a landscape combining all the elements of 
beauty in an extraordinary degree, whether seen by day or night. A most en- 
chanting view is obtained from the great reservoir of the water-works on the 
hill, one mile above the city. The eye takes in Utica on the east. New Albany 
on the west, and, the whole intermediate country, with its islands, falls, cities, 
river, villages, etc. etc. To stand on that hill and survey the vast and varied 
plain mapiicd out before the eye, with its thousand beauties, and its millions of 
wealth, the liiind conceives for the first time, perhaps, the real beauty and 
wealth of this locality. We sec so clearly the necessity for a bridge to unite 
the pretty thriving cities on either side of the falls, that we almost strain our 
eyes to get a view of its massive piers, and long and graceful spans across "ia 
Belle Riviere." 

About twelve miles south of the city there is a range of hills about 350 to 
400 feet high, called the " Knobs." They rest on a stratum of slate, known by 
geologists as the black Devonian Shale. "Their summit.s arc capped with soft 
free-stone, while the ash-colored shales, with intercolatjons of cncrinital lime- 



32 GEOLOGY. 

t^toncs, form their principal mass." Sec Keport Geological Survey of Kentucky, 
vol. 2, p. 97. The free-stone of these Knobs is, no doubt, a fine building stone. 
We have seen it in heavy bedded strata two and three feet in thickness, a pure 
dark colored sand-stone, admitting of being wrought into all necessary forms, 
:ind working very smoothly. The fact that it is immediately along side of the 
Nashville railroad, and only twelve miles from the city, is a consideration of 
great importance in connection with this stone. These Knobs form the extreme 
.southern border of Jefferson county. East and north-east of them lie the 
famous '-Beargrass lands," environing the city. These lands form a high and 
very rich country, which abounds in fine bold springs of cold, clear lime-stone 
water. The country is highly improved, and presents a succession of the finest 
farms, substantial farm-houses, and tastefully improved grounds. In fact, 
wealth and taste are everywhere apparent. It would be difficult to find a richer 
or more elegantly improved section of country any where. 

The citizens of this region are an intelligent, refined, and thrifty community, 
and generally remarkable for their hospitality. 



GEOLOGY. 

Jeflferson county affords the best exposures of the calearious rocks, under 
the black slate belonging to the Devonian period, yet seen. The projecting 
ledges on the bank of the Ohio river that appear in connected succession be- 
tween the head and foot of the falls affords, probably, the best sections of these 
rocks in the Avestern States. 

We observe there the following succession and superposition : 

1. Black bituminous slate or shale. 

-. Upper crinoidal, shell, and coralline lime-stones. 

;>. Hydraulic lime-stone. 

-t. Lower crinoidal, shell, and coralline lime-stones. 

T). Olivanites bed. 

(i. Spirifer Gregoria shell and coralline beds. 

7. Main beds of coral lime-stones. 

These beds rest upon a lime-stone containing chain coral, which is seen just 
above the lowest stage of water at the principal axis of the falls, where the 
waters are most turbulent. Only a portion of the lower part of the black slate 
\n seen immediately adjacent to the falls. Its junction with the upper crinoidal 
bed, No. 2, of the above section, can be well seen below the mouth of Silvii 
Greek on the Indiana side, where there is a thin, hard pyritiferuus band be 
tween the black slate and lime-stoue, containing a few cntrochitos. Thrco 
subdivisions may be observed in the upper coralline bed. No. 2, of this falls 
^•ection : 

(a.) White or yellowish white, earthy fractured layers, containing, besides 
rriuoiJca a Favosite, a large Leptena and Atrypa prisca^ with a fringe. 

{/>.) Middle layers containing also a few Gystiphyllae. 

(c.) liowor layers, containing most Gystiphyllae, and on Gorn Island, rt- 
mains of fishes. This is what has been designated as the Upper Fish Bed 
Tiiese crinoidal beds contain a vast multitude of the remains of different species 
of encrinitea, mostly silicious, or more so than the imbedding rock, so that they 
often project and appear like black concretions. ^ ^ ^ ■¥■ ^- 'A- 'A- * :'- 

Time has not yet permitted a thorough investigation into the specific character 
of the numerous beautiful fossil-shells, corals, and fish remains which occur at 
this highly interesting locality. 



GEOLOGY. 33 

The hydraulic bed, of which such large quantities were excavated out of the 
Louisville canal, and have since been extensively manufactured into water 
cement, and sold throughout the western country for all purposes for which such 
cement is applicable, is an earthy lime-stone of a slightly bluish-green asheu 
tint, with an earthy flat conchoidal fracture. It contains, as its principal and 
characteristic constituents, 28.29 parts of lime, 8.87 of magnesia, and 25.78 per 
cent, of earthy insoluble silicates, of which 22.58 is pure silica. It is particu- 
larly worthy of note that the lime and silica in this celebrated and well known 
cement rock, are exactly in the proportion of their equivalent, proving, most 
conclusively, that its hydraulic properties are due to this definite chemical rela- 
tion of these substances, which, after the rock is properly burnt and ground, 
unite, in connection with the water, to form a hydrated silicate of lime, in which 
there is one equivalent of silicic acid united to one equivalent of lime, which 
acts as a powerful cement to agglutinate the grains of sand added in the mixed 
mortar, which is usually three times the bulk of the hydraulic lime employed. 

As yet we have no good detailed sections of the upper silurian beds of Jeffer- 
son county, lying between the upper chain coral bed and the magnesian build- 
ing stone. See Report of Geological Survey of Kentucky, vol. 2, p. 70 and 
pp. 97, 98. 

The magnesian building stone alluded to in the able report just quoted, is 
found in heavy bedded strata in the bluff, on the eastern and south-eastern edge 
of the city. . It is apparently inexhaustible, and is extensively used for building 
in the city. The strata are from one to four feet in thickness, and we think we 
have seen it five feet thick. This stone would be more durable if it was a little 
more compact and hard, but is a blessing of almost incalculable importance to 
the city as it is. The ease and cheap cost of procuring this stone adds much to 
itcj importance. 

Immediately under the city there seems to be a depression of the strata, form- 
ing an immense basin, which is filled with coarse gravel and sand to the depth 
of from 50 to 100 feet, with a stratum of rich loam and sand resting on the top 
of it. The gravel is clean water-worn pebbles and coarse sand, and sometimes 
comes within a few feet of the surface, at others it is 15 to 20 feet below the 
surface, owing most probably to the inequalities of the surface. At Dupont's 
Artesian well, which is only a few rods from the canal, where the solid rock had 
to be blasted in making a channel for boats, it is 76 feet through the gravel bed 
to the rock. It is in this immense bed of clean gravel that we find the in- 
exhaustible supply of cold, limpid water, which furnishes the whole popula- 
tion of the city. 

In the south edge of the county, and in the adjoining county of Bullitt, there 
is found a very superior iron ore. At present two furnaces, one of them on the 
Louisville and Nashville railroad, are working this ore. The pig-iron made by 
these furnaces is superior to any other iron received in this market. This ore 
is found in the "Knobs" skirting the south of Jefferson county, and running 
through Bullitt. These Knobs are also capped with heavy strata of free-stone. 
Much of this stone is destined to be used, no doubt, for building purpose in this 
city. It is near the city, and so convenient to two railroads that it can be fur- 
nished at small cost. It is believed by many that it is equal to any building 
stone we can get. It is easy to work, will take a very good polish, and stands 
the weather remarkably well. 
3 



^^,^^^gil^ 




DESCRIPTION. 35 

DESCRIPTIOX OF THE CITY. 

Louisville is situated on the southern hank of the Ohio river, in Jefferson 
county, Kentucky, and immediately opposite the Falls of said stream. The city 
is in latitude 38° 3' north, and longitude 85" 30' west of Greenwich. It is ou 
an elevated plain, seventy feet above the river, and out of reaeh of the highest 
Hoods. The plain stretches out above, below and south of the city, many miles, 
and is remarkably fertile. Being highly improved, it presents a lovely prospect 
of fields, orchards, vineyards, gardens and beautiful dwellings with grounds laid 
out and ornamented with much taste. Every avenue leading from the city prc- 
f^cnts to the eye of the traveller a ravishing view of rural beauty and elegant 
rcliiicment. This region is well adapted to the culture of fruit, and produces 
apples, pears, peaches, plums, grapes, etc., in great variety and perfection. Per- 
haps no city in this country is better supplied with choice fruits than Louisville. 

The city is laid out on a scale of magnificence naturally suggested by the 
vastncss and beauty of the plain on which it stands. The principal streets, 
running east and west, are from sixty to one hundred and twenty feet wide, and 
run the whole length of the city proper — about four miles — without a curve. 
These are crossed at right angles by thirty-five others, equally straight, and 
about one and a half or two miles long. The cross streets are of uniform width, 
viz., sixty feet. The side walks arc from twelve to twenty-five feet wide, and 
set with shade trees, except in the business portions of the city. The streets 
vary from a perfect level only sufficient for good drainage; and thus, beiifg 
straight, wide, level and set with trees on both sides, they afford some of the 
finest views we have ever seen. Almost any of them, after we get beyond the 
business part of the city, are beautiful enough to charm the beholder. To walk 
these streets beneath the embowering trees on a summer's day, and breathe the 
soft south wind, and smell the sweet flowers in each door yard, is enough to ex- 
tort admiration from any one. 

The squares, formed by these straight and wide streets, arc from four hundred 
and twenty to five hundred and twenty-five feet between the cross streets; and 
from four hundred and twenty to one thousand feet between those running east 
and west. These immense squares are laid off" into half acre lots, that is, one 
hundred and five feet front, by two hundred and ten deep. This was the si^e 
of all the lots originally, but they have been divided, of course, in the business 
pai-t of the city. Through the middle of each square there runs an alley, to 
aiTord convenient ingress and egress for carriages. These alleys were ten feet 
wide originally, but in some instances they have been widened to twenty and 
even thirty feet, and dignified with the name of streets. 

The large size of the lots aff"ords room for gardens, fruit and ornamental trees, 
shrubbery and flowers; and for what is of more importance than either of these, 
viz., a free circulation of air. From the great depth of the lots, however, they 
may be subdivided in front, the circulation of air can never be materially inter- 
rupted. Ample provision was made in the original survey of the town for a 
park and public squares. A slip one hundred and eighty feet wide, and run- 
ning from one end of the city to the other, was reserved for a park. It included 
the ground between Green and Grayson streets. It was laid off" into lots and 
sold by the Trustees, without any legal authority, before land was valuable 
enough, or the town large enough, to induce the citizens to inquire into it. 
VVOien they did inquire, it was only to find they were too late, and that the park 
was lost to the city forever. This loss, though great, is less felt here than it 
would be almost anywhere else, owing to the magnificent streets, alleys, and im- 
mense squares, described above. The depth of the lota being so great, admits 
of setting the dwelling houses fifteen or twenty feet back from the street, and 



36 DESCEIPTIOX. 

thus a front yard of flowers and ornamental trees is seen before almost ererj 
house. This gives an appearance of rural beauty to the city superior to any 
place of its size we have ever seen. 

The parks of Philadelphia are indeed very beautiful, but we must leave the 
street to enjoy their refreshing shade and sylvan beauty. We look in vain 
along her clean streets, of uniform brick walls, white window shutters and 
marble door steps, for any green tree, grassy yard, or flower plat to relieve 
the eye or refresh the feelings. The same remark is true of New York, and in 
fact, of all large cities that we have seen. Louisville, though not a very popu- 
lous city when compared to those named, covers an immense space, more than 
any city of her population in the country, and in consequence of the grand 
scale on which the city is planned, she has, and may always retain, this peculiar 
and charming feature. We never knew any one to visit our city, and ramble 
beyond the business streets, that did not express surprise and admiration at the 
rural beauty everywhere visible. 

There are sixty miles of paved street and forty miles of paved alley, much of 
the latter twenty and even thirty feet wide. Thus we have one hundred miles 
of paved carriage way in Louisville. The longest paved street is five and a half 
miles in length. The greater part of the paving stone used is the grey lime- 
stone common about the city, but of late years much use is made of boulder 
stones for paving, and they will doubtless soon take the place of every other 
material. The curbing is of limestone, in blocks or slabs from three to ten feet 
long, dressed to a face of five to eight inches on the top, and let into the ground 
two and a half or three feet. An immense amount of new curbing and side- 
walk have been done the past season in the older parts of the city, to make 
them correspond with the newer streets. 

The entire city stands on a stratum of sand, or clay and sand, the surface of 
which is a rich loam, or warm fertile soil. Two or three feet below the surface 
pure sand is generally found, resembling river bar sand, both in cleanliness and 
in the manner of superposition. Beneath the sand is found a very deep sub- 
stratum of clean gravel. This gravel is of water worn pebbles, mostly white 
and crystalline, and coarse, clean, white sand. The depth of the upper stratum 
varies from five to twenty feet. The depth of the bed of gravel we have no 
means of ascertaining, except at Dupont's Artesian Well, that being the only 
place where it bus been penetrated to the rock beneath it. Here it is seventy- 
six feet deep. The Artesian Well is within a few rods of the canal, which was 
excavated through a bed of solid rock. From this it is manifest that the rocky 
bed of the falls either suddenly stops on the southern bank of the canal or dips 
southward at an angle of near forty-five degrees. If the latter supposition be 
correct, then the bed of gravel must be much deeper under the city than it is at 
the well, which is on the northern edge of the city. This question being one of 
practical importance, as well as of theoretical interest, deserves thorough inves- 
tigation, and we sincerely hope Dr. Owen, our very able State Geologist, will 
give it early and thorough attention. Perhaps no man living is bettor qualified 
to do it than he is, as his able reports, already published, will show. 

The sand, above noticed, furnishes an excellent building material, and derives 
additional importance from the fact, that the digging of a cellar generally fur- 
nishes all the sand necessary to complete the building. Owing to this sand, 
cellars are dry and tidy, being almost as pure and healthy as rooms above 
ground. Some of the city breweries have cellars twenty or twenty-five feet 
deep, and lighted with gas, for storing their immense casks of beer and ale. 

In the underlying gravel is found an inexhaustible fountain of cold, limpid 
water. From this fountain hundreds of wells are constantly supplied, and 
many of our citizens believe we are indebted to this supply of pure limpid 



DESCRIPTION. 37 

water for the extraortlinary licalth of the city. Everywhere in the city it is 
found at the depth of tifty or sixty feet, but immediately on the border of the 
city, east and southeast, we have the heavy ledges of limestone, in which the 
water is not found, or not without a heavy expense of blasting tlic rock. The 
possession of this water made our citizens very reluctant to erect water works, 
for beside the vast expense of the works, they feared the river water would not 
be so pure or so healthy as that of the wells. Perhaps our singular exemption 
from epidemics, and general good health, is due more to the peculiar geological 
formation of this region than to anything else. For since the drainage and 
filling up of the ponds originally found here, which were caused by the immense 
beds of leaves and other vegetable matter which accumulated in the low places 
of the plain while the forest was standing, the sand and gravel absorbs all mois- 
ture, and diseases resulting from miasma have nearly disappeared, and when 
present are greatly modified. 

The public pumps being very numerous, easily worked, and always kept in 
erdcr, afford cheap, pure and abundant supplies of water; and being very clear 
and cold, it needs neither filtering nor ice. Thus the poorest families have 
water fit for a prince, literally without money and without price. No other city 
that we know of, has such a supply of pure cold water as Louisville. We do 
not believe that there is another such in America. What adds to the impor- 
tance of this water, is the fact, that it is easily obtained in any part of the city, 
no instance of failure having ever been met with. Of the thousands of strang- 
ers who have used it, we never heard any object to it, except on account of it 
being limestone, or "hard" water. But this objection has more to do with the 
taste than anything else, and seldom produces any sensible effect on the systems 
of even those who have been accustomed to drink soft water. A few days suf- 
fices to make strangers fond of it, and when once used to it they find no other 
water so sweet and refreshing as that from the city pumps. As, however, hard, 
or limestone water is not suitable for manufiicturing, — is injurious to steam 
boilers, and to steam machinery generally, — it was urged that the interests of 
the city demanded a supply of soft or river water, and after voting down the 
proposition to erect water works several times, the matter was compromised by 
the passage of an ordinance that secures well water to all who prefer it as now 
enjoyed, for all time to come, and the citizens voted in favor of an appropria- 
tion of money to erect water works. They are now being erected, and on a 
scale that will be equal to any demand. They are in a forward state of progress 
as may be seen by reference to the article on Water Works. 

Owing to the canal being too small to pass the large boats up to the main 
wharf, the city has, at heavy expense, constructed a fine wharf at Portland. 
There all the largest and finest steamers receive and discharge their cargoes, 
except when the river is high enough for them to pass over the Falls. Thus 
Louisville has two wharves, one for the small and up river boats, and the other 
for the large and lower river boats. A stranger, on looking at either of these 
wharves separately, would be led to a wrong, and rather disparaging conclusion 
as to our tonnage. He sees but half of it. This circumstance causes considera- 
ble inconvenience, requiring the transportation of freight and passengers a dis- 
tance of three miles by land. We are glad to say, however, that much attention 
has been bestowed, and money expended, to lessen this inconvenience as far as 
practicable. Two fine wide streets, lately bouldcred all the way through, 
accommodate scores of omnibusses and coaches, which run day and night, for 
the accommodatJon of the public. Besides these, there is a horse car railroad, 
the track extending from Twelfth street to the wharf and ferry landing in Port- 
land. At Twelfth street a line of omnibusses connects with the cars, and runs 
to the upper end of the city on Main street. The cars and omnibusses belong 



38 DESCRIPTIOX. 

to the same company, and they carry passengers the whole distance, from Wen- 
zel street to Portland — a distance of five and a half miles — for ten cents. A 
person can ride from one end of the omnibus route to the other — two miles — 
for five cents, and also in the cars from Twelfth street to Portland — three and 
a half miles — for five cents. The company run their omnibusses and cars every 
ten minutes, during the day, and every half hour after night. They also carry 
freight on their road on equally easy terms. This is a great public convenience, 
and we are glad to see it so well sustained. The fine flourishing city of New 
Albany being opposite to Portland, the business of all these highways is con- 
tinually on the increase. 

Soon, however, we hope to see an end of the troublesome transportation of 
the thousands of tons of freight around the falls. Already the initiatory steps 
have been taken to enlarge the canal so as to pass vessels of the largest class. 
The locks on the extension will admit boats three hundred feet long. It is ex- 
pected that the work will be commenced this year. Few things will more facil- 
itate the commerce of our city or that of the entire Ohio river. 

The wharf of the city proper, that is, the upper wharf, is now being greatly 
improved and extended. Since the turning of Beargrass Creek into the river, 
two miles above its old mouth, and thus reclaiming its bed for that distance, an 
immense sewer has been commenced on the south side of the old channel at its 
mouth, and the creek is filled up and the wharf built over it. This is a timely 
and valuable improvement. A vast increase of business is certain to be realized 
at this wharf within a year or two, and it is wise to provide the best accommo- 
dations for it that is possible. The wharf has been extended up the river also, 
and is being filled up, so as to place it quite above the highest floods. These 
are very important improvements, and we trust will continue to receive due at- 
tention by our city government, until they shall be completed in the very best 
manner. Let the wliarf, from end to end, present the clean, substantial, and 
inviting appearance of a real eummercial city, and not look as if our town had 
turned its back upon our palace-like steamers, and sought the river only as a 
receptacle for filth and offal. The unsightly appearance of that filthy, oozy 
creek, and its equally filthy surroundings, have been an eye-sore to all strang- 
ers, and it has been so long enough. The sight of it has done more, perhaps, 
to impress strangers unfavorably toward Louisville, than anything else about 
the place. Nor can we wonder at it, for we ourselves would be unfavorably 
impressed were we in their stead. Think of it, that unsightly public landing, 
the first thing every stranger sees on setting foot on our shore! If we enter 
a house ami every child that meets our view has an unwashed face and an 
uncombed head, no matter how fine the parlor may be, no matter how many 
apologies madam may make, our minds are made up, we have received our 
impression. Then let the abominable nuisance be removed with all convenient 
dispatch. Let the city's face (front) bo washed. All praise to our city 
authorities for what they have done, and may they never stop till all is 
done that can be done to present a high, dry, clean, substantial and exten- 
sive river front — a wharf worthy of, and equal to, all the business we may 
have to do. 

The public buildings of Louisville, though not of the most costly character, 
are nevertheless very creditable. The Court-house, for both county and city 
purposes, now being finished at the expense of the city and county jointly, will 
when completed, present a very imposing appearance. The U. 8. Custom 
House, Masonic Temple, Hospitals, Blind Asylum, Medical Schools, High 
School, Cathedral, First Baptist Church, First l^csbyterian Church, AValnut 
Street Methodist Church, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, First Congregational 
Methodist Church, Brook Street Methodist Church, Chestnut Street Presbytc- 



40 SCHOOLS. 

rian Church, and the City School Houses, eight in number, are the largest and 
most important of the public buildings. 

The market houses are six in number, five in the city proper and one in 
Portland. They are all situated on Market street, and are built with iron 
columns on stone pedestals. They have arched ceilings, and are well lighted 
with gas. Being in the middle of the street, those first built left hardly as 
much room for carriages to pass as was necessary; hence those built later, were 
provided for by widening the street, where they are situated, twenty-four feet, 
thus making it one hundred and fourteen feet wide at all the markets except 
the two first built. They are regarded as models of market-house architecture, 
being light, airy and graceful. They are kept very clean, and are open every 
day in the week except the Sabbath, and also on Saturday evening until nine 
o'clock. They are well supplied with flesh, fish, fowl, vegetables and fruit. 
Beef, mutton and pork, equal to any in the world, can be had here. Vegeta- 
bles, in great variety and abundance, are every day exposed in tempting profu- 
sion and excellence. Fruits, of all sorts, and of excellent quality, may always 
be found here in their respective seasons. We cannot forbear quoting the fol- 
lowing remarks from Dr. H. McMurtry's Sketches of Louisville, written in 1819. 
The Dr. says: "With respect to fruit, it is perhaps unequalled by any in the 
United States. Peaches of great size and beauty, such as bring six and a quar- 
ter cents each in the Philadelphia market, are sold here for fifty cents per 
bushel. Apples, without exception the finest I have ever seen, are sold at the 
same price in the fall, and at two dollars per barrel in the winter. Grapes, 
melons of various kinds, cherries, raspberries and strawberries are to be had in 
their respective seasons." These remarks are as true of our fruit market now 
as they ever were, with the single difference that we have more of it, and of 
better varieties now than ever before. Prices here will compare favorably with 
any other market in America for cheapness. 



SCHOOLS. 

The school systems of this country are among the highest and strongest evi- 
dences of its progressive civilization. Confined for many years to the older 
8H.ates of the Union, there is now hardly a single member of the confederacy 
that docs not take an honest pride in its public schools. In this respect Ken- 
tucky is not behind the times, her system of education being one of the promi- 
nent features in her internal legislation. A large sum is thus annually distri- 
buted, each school district receiving its quota, which serves as a nucleus for 
the establishment of the district school, the balance being made up by subscrip- 
tion. The success of the school is thus an index to the intelligence and publie 
spirit of the inhabitants of the district. 

Louisville draws from the school fund about $14,000 annually; a tax is alse 
levied upon her citizens for the support of the public schools, of about twenty 
or twenty-one cents upon every hundred dollars worth of taxable property. 
This tax yields a revenue amounting, with the sum received from the State, to 
nearly §70,000, which is devoted exclusively to the maintenance of the public 
schools as provided for in the city charter. 

There are ten ward school houses, and most of them are large buildings, 
being about eighty by one hundred feet square, and three stories high. Besides 
being ornaments of architectural elegance and magnitude, they are well arranged 
into comfortable apartments, with free ventilation and easy ingress and egress. 
They are furnished with maps, desks, black boards, and every convenience for 



SCHOOLS. 41 

the health, comfort and study of the children. Each of these buildings can 
accommodate from seven to eight hundred children. In these schools all the 
children of the city may be educated without expense to themselves or their 
parents; the child of the poorest man having the same rights, and the same 
opportunities of becoming an educated man or woman as the child of the wealth- 
iest. The schools are divided, first into male and female departments, occupy- 
in" different portions of the building, and accessible by different entrances. 
These two departments are, however, subdivided into three distinct grades of 
schools, viz: the primary, secondary, and the grammar school, each being sepa- 
rate and distinct from the other in every particular. 

To give a clear idea of the working of the system, it will be well to follow a 
child through the different grades of schools and the studies pursued in each: 
The only conditions of entrance to tho school are that the child be a resident 
of the ward and six years old. He then enters the primary school where he 
learns to read and spell simple words and lessons, and commits the multiplica- 
tion table. He is then prepared for the secondary department where he advances 
in his course of reading and spelling, and commences writing, mental arithmetic 
and geography, remaining in the department from one to two years, when, after 
an examination, ho is admitted to the grammar school. Hero he pursues the 
same studies as before, though of course in more advanced text-books, excepting 
ment4il arithmetic, which is given up altogether, while written arithmetic (which 
he had commenced in the secondary department), tiikes its place. He now com- 
mences the study of grammar and the other branches of a common English 
education, including algebra. Here he may remain untill fitted to go into busi- 
ness, or prepared for the High school. The same course is followed in the case 
of females; the different departments corresponding in name and degree to the 
schools for males. It is proper to mention here, that in three wards of the city 
German is taught by teachers who devote themselves exclusively to this branch 
of education. These wards are the first, second and eighth, in which the German 
population is very numerous. 

It is now three years since the clause in the Charter, requiring the establish- 
ment of High Schools, was complied with, and they have fully won for them- 
selves a reputation that proves the wisdom and foresight of those who urged 
tlieir establishment. The Male High School is conducted by four Professors, 
one of whom is the Principal. Each Professor occupies a separate room, and 
is engaged in teaching one of the following branches, viz: Rhetoric, History and 
Belle Letters, Mathematics, the Classics and Modern Languages. The student,^ 
are received annually, there being four classes, one of which graduates every 
year as another is admitted. The course of study thus occupies four years, and 
though quite comprehensive, is remarkably thorough. The Professors are all 
highly cultivated men, and devoted to the interests of the school. 

The Female High School occupies a building near the centre of the city on 
one of the most beautiful streets. This school is conducted by a I'rincipal, a 
Professor of Modern Languages, who also devotes half his time to the Natural 
Sciences, a Preceptress, and a Female Assistant. The school is divided into 
three classes or grades of pupils, the time spent in the course of study being 
three years, one grade graduating and another entering each year. The course 
cjubraces Latin, Rhetoric, History, Mathematics, French, the Natural Sciences, 
Extempore Composition, and the careful reading and analysis of the English 
language. Pupils from the Grammar schools are alone eligible to a place in 
this school after undergoing a rigid preliminary examination. The number of 
applicants for admission is always very large, and it is a cheering fact that the 
number of successful applicants, who have stood the test of the annual examina- 
tion, is increasing rapidly. 



42 SCHOOLS. 

The whole school system is under the charge of a Board of Trustees, elected 
by the people. This Board meets on the first Monday of every month and 
transacts all the business of the school system. They annually elect a Secretary, 
w.ho acts in the capacity of Superintendent of public instruction ; his time being 
spent in visiting the schools and attending to all details of business. 

Besides the very extensive and well conducted system of free schools, we 
have a large number of private and denominational schools. We have Roman 
Catholic schools, male and female, Protestant Episcopal schools, Presbyterian 
and other denominational schools. Some of these schools have fine school 
buildings, built expressly for the purpose. They are well adapted to educa- 
tional purposes, and are also imposing ornaments to the city. St. Aloysius 
College, is a Koman Catholic school for males, of some celebrity. It is under 
the care of the Jesuits, and has six professors and several tutors. The Cedar 
Grove Academy is a popular Roman Catholic school for females, having fine 
buildings and spacious grounds; it is situated in Portland. The Presbyterian 
Female Academy is, with its spacious grounds, situated in the midst of a beau- 
tiful part of the city, and is an object of interest to every beholder. Great 
liberality and zeal have been displayed by the friends of this noble enterprise. 
The Louisville Female College is another school of high grade, and conveniently 
located, in spacious buildings well adapted to the purpose. This school is not 
a denominational one, yet its moral and religious tone are equal to any school 
in the country. It is regularly chartered by act of the Legislature of Kentucky 
with full collegiate powers. 

There are numerous other schools for both males and females, of a high order. 
Such as Mr. Butler's excellent school for females; Messrs. McBurnie and 
^Vomack's high school for boys. These gentlemen are all thorough and accom- 
plished teachers of long experience. There are several excellent schools in the 
vicinity of the city also, for instance, Bishop Smith's, for females, and Rev. 
Mr. Beckwith's, also for females. We also mention the Jefferson Academy, 
under the management of Rev. G. W. Brush, and located at Middletown, con- 
venient to the railroad; this is a first class school for females. In the same 
neighborhood is Rev. B. H. McCown's school for males, a classical school of 
high order. 

There are two Medical schools, viz: The Medical Department of the L^niver- 
sity of Louisville, and The Kentucky School of Medicine. These institutions 
are ably conducted by thorough and accomplished Professors. Our limits do 
not allow of the extended notice which their merits deserve, but we must say, 
they are deservedly popular, and the city and the State may well be proud of 
them. The Law Department of the University of Louisville, is also an institu- 
tion of high character, and speaks well for the liberality and good taste of the 
city. Its professors rank among the ablest lawyers and jurists of this country. 
It is deservedly a very popular law school. There are two Commercial schools, 
viz: The Louisville Commercial College, and The Louisville Mercantile Academy. 
Both are ably conducted by competent Professors. There are usually about one 
hundred and fifty or two hundred young men in attendance at these schools. 



44 DUPO^'TS ARTESIAN WELL. 

DUPOXT'S ARTESIAN WELL, 

Report, Analysis and Medical Properties of its Water, hy Prof. J. Lawrence 
Smith, M.D., of the Medical Department of the University of Louisville. 

The Artesian Well, forming the subject of this report, is one of the most 
interesting objects of the kind to be found in any part of the world. It was 
undertaken by Messrs. C. I. & A. V. Du Pont, of this city, prosecuted with 
great energy and large expenditure, and accomplished in a much shorter time 
than any similar undertaking of the same magnitude. The practical skill of 
31r. Blake directed the construction of the efficient machinery employed, and 
so successful was he in the superintendence of the operations, that not a single 
detention was experienced from the commencement to the termination of his 
labors. 

The citizens of Louisville were not aware of what was going on in their midst, 
until sometime in the month of August, 1858, the public prints announced, 
that at the paper mill a jet of mineral water was pouring forth in vast volumes 
from a boring two thousand and eighty-six feet in depth. 

In giving an account of Du Pont's Artesian Well, it will, no doubt, interest 
many to learn something as regards the nature and history of Artesian Wells. 
The principal difference between the ordinary and Artesian Wells, is, that the 
latter is very much smaller in diameter than the former, and penetrates the 
curth to a much greater extent. 

In digging the ordinary well the instruments employed are the spade and 
pick, or blasting with gunpowder when rock is penetrated. To form an Arte- 
sian Well, very different instruments are employed, some are not unlike an 
auger, but the more usual ones are in the form of chisels. It is proper to com- 
mence by erecting a tall shed over the spot where the boring is to take place, 
some thirty or forty feet in height and eight or ten feet square at the base, 
gradually diminishing in size upwards. This is done for the convenience of 
elevating and storing away the long rods used in making these wells. Long 
rods of hickory, or other strong fibrous wood, are procured; they are from one 
and a half to two inches in diameter, about thirty feet in length, and so arranged 
at their extremities by iron casings as to be easily and securely fastened to each 
other, while they admit of being equally readily detached. It is to the extre- 
mity of the rod that the chisels and other excavating tools are attached, as also 
the long, narrow bucket for taking up the loose materials detached by the 
excavating tools. Mechanical arrangements are next made for hand, horse, or 
steam power, to give an up and down motion to the rod, of fifteen to twenty 
inches, while a slow, circular motion is given to it by some one standing over 
tlie boring. 

Thus furnished, it is best when the nature of the ground admits of it, and it 
is expected to go to a considerable depth, to commence by sinking an ordinary 
well four or five feet in diameter, and ten to fifteen feet deep, provided it can be 
done without interruption by water; next, attach one of the tools to the end of 
the rod, and pierce the ground with a hole, varying from two to nine inches in 
diameter. Most commonly, if the well is expected to be of great depth, it is 
commenced with a calibre of from five to nine inches, and afterwards diminished 
to three or four inches, or even less. If the boring passes through sand, or 
loose material, it becomes necessary to place in the well strong tubes to sustain 
the sides, as otherwise, the loose material becoming detached, may at any time 
fill up the boring; in this way the well at Charleston, South Carolina, was. on 
one occasion, filled up one hundred and forty feet in a single night. When the 
boring is through rock, tubing is not usually required. 



dupoxt's artesian well. 45 

The supply of water to Artesian Wells follows the same law as other wells 
and springs, viz: The water rises in them to no greater height than that of the 
source. In this city the water rises in the ordinary wells to within forty feet of 
the surface, for the simple reason that the level of the basin of water in the 
gravel under the city is that depth beneath the surface. In Artesian Wells, 
that are considered successful, the boring is carried to such depth that some 
vein of water is encountered, having its connection with a source much higher 
than the surface of the Artesian Well, thus insuring a flow of water above the 
surface of the ground. It does not, however, always happen that the water in 
Artesian Wells rises to the surface. Many of the salt wells in Virginia, and 
elsewhere, are of this character, and the water has to bo pumped to the surface. 
There is a well of this last description, at Brighton, England, from which seven 
hundred gallons are pumped every minute. This method of forming wells is 
(rfvery ancient date. The Chinese employed it one or two thousand years ago, 
but the introduction of it into one of the provinces of France (the ancient 
Artt?sium) during the reign of Louis XIV, is what has given the generally 
received name to this class of wells. 

The more recent geological formations, as the tertiary and upper secondary, 
can be bored with better hopes of success than the older formations, but when 
the older strata furnish supplies of water, they are generally very abundant, for 
in the old secondary rocks are found those great chasms and caverns so celebra- 
ted in various parts of the world, for the rivers that flow through them, and are 
lost in them; as the cavern of Guacharo, in South America, which Humboldt 
traced for two thousand four hundred feet, finding all along its extent a river 
tfeirty feet wide, rolling along the floor of this magnificent cavern. In the 
cavern of Adelsburg, in Carniola, the river Pceck engulfs itself; it appears and 
disappears many times, and has been traced under ground, through an extent 
of six miles, as far as a large lake. The fountain of Vancluse also issues from 
subterraneous rocks, and pours forth a volume of thirteen thousand cubic feet 
per minute, even under ordinary circumstances, and this is sometimes increased 
to forty thousand cubic feet. But to us there is no more interesting cavern 
containing abundant streams than the far-famed Mammoth Cave. 

In passing through the various strata, with the boring apparatus, it commonlv 
happens that distinct sheets of water are penetrated, having no connection with 
each other; as for example, in the works which have been undertaken for the 
search of coal at St Nicholas Aliermonte, near Dieppe, in France, seven great 
sheets of water were passed through. In coming upon the seams of water in 
Artesian Wells, it may be that they merely percolate porous sand rock, or they 
are regular caverns in the rock, varying in depth from a few inches to twenty 
or more feet. 

The surface of the country in which these wells may be made successfully 
furnish no indications. In the province of France from which the name of 
these wells is derived, the water comes up in immense plains where no hill is 
seen even in the distance. Of course, the water comes from some point higher 
than the plain; it may be fifty miles distant, it may be one hundred miles or 
more, and where the geological formation of the country is the same we could 
hardly set a limit to the distance from which the water might come. In fact 
they are now boring successfully for water in the African deserts. 

Considerable interest connected with these wells is the indications they furn- 
ish of the gradually increasing temperature as we (^sccnd into the earth; at 
difierent places there is a slight diff'erence in the ratio at which the temperature 
increases. In descending from the surface of the earth by excavation wo come 
to a depth at which the thermometer will stand at the same point all the year. 
At Paris, France, this depth is ninety feet, and the temperature 53° Fahr,; in 



46 DUPONTS ARTESIAN WELK 

passing below this point the temperature gradually increases in a uniform ratio 
of 1° for every sixty-one feet of depth, so that the deepest excavation at that 
place, being one thousand eight hundred and six feet, has at the bottom a con- 
stant temperature of 81°. The ratio in Scotland is 1° for forty-eight feet of 
descent; the mean of seventeen -wells in other places in Europe gives 1° for 
every fifty-three feet. The experiments made on the well at this place, taking 
the constant temperature at ninety feet to be 53°, show an increase of 1° of 
heat for every sixty-seven feet of depth. It is not the object of this report to 
enter upon speculation as regards the causes of the gradual increase of tem- 
perature. 

The uses of Artesian Wells are various, as will be seen by reading the follow- 
ing extract from Tomlinson's Encyclopedia: "Artesian Wells have not only 
been employed for pro\'iding houses with water, but their waters have also been 
used as a moving power. In the village of Gonehem, near Bcthume, there are 
four borings to the depth of one hundred and twenty feet; the waters are con- 
veyed into the water course of a flour mill, and are also made to subserve agri- 
cultural purposes. The little town of Roubaix, near Arras, was in danger of 
losing its principal means of support, by its silk spinning and dye works, from 
want of water. Artesian Wells were sunk, one of which yields two hundred 
and eighty-three cubic yards of water per day, or double the power of a steam 
engine of twenty horse power. At Tours an Artesian Well pours two hundred 
and thirty-seven gallons of water per minute into the trough of a water-wheel 
twenty-one feet in diameter, which is the moving power of a large silk factory. 
In another place at Fontes, near Aire, the united waters of ten wells are made 
to turn the mill-stones of a large mill, to blow the bellows and to beat the ham- 
mers of a nail manufactory. 

■•The constant high temperature of these waters renders them especially valu- 
able during winter, either as a moving power or as a means of thawing and 
washing away the ice which impedes the motion of water-wheels in time of frost. 
In Wurtemburg the water of several Artesian Wells is transmitted through 
metal pipes, arranged in large manufactories, and thus a constant temperature 
of 47° is maintained at a season when the external temperature is at zero. 
Green-houses have been heated in the same way, and Artesian waters have been 
applied at Grenelle as a source of warmth to hospitals and other public build- 
ings. By introducing the water of Artesian Wells into fish ponds the extreme 
variations have been prevented. Artificial cress plots have also been formed 
and supplied by means of those wells with pure water of a steady temperature. 
The artificial cress plots of Erfurt produce a large annual revenue. Paper mills 
liave also been supplied with the pure water of these wells at periods when the 
heavy rains have made the river water muddy. In the Department du Nord 
the fine linen used in the manufacture of cambric, lawn, lace, etc., is prepared 
from flax rotted in pools, which are supplied by Artesian waters; by their purity 
and invariable temperature, the soluble portions of the flax are more quickly 
removed, and the valuable qualities of the filaments retained in higher perfec- 
tion. Such are a few of the advantages and practical applications of Artcsjim 
wells." 

It is doubtless a point of inter(^ to cnjynerate some of the more rcmarkabhs 
Artesian Wells, to contrast them with the one now under report. \^ 

The Grcndk Well, at J-'uris, was «)inmencod in 183-1 and completed in 1841. 
at which time the rod suddenly descended several yards, and shortly after, the 
water rose to the surface in vast quantities. For the first fifty feet the boring 
was twelve inches in diameter, which was reduced to nine inches and thus cav- 
ried to a depth of one thousand one hundred feet; a farther reduction was made 
to seven and a half inches until the depth of one thousand three hundred feet 



dupont's aetesian "vvell. 47 

\ras reached; and a final diminution to six inches to the termination of the well 
at one thousand eight hundred and six feet. From the completion of the well 
to the present time there has been a steady flow of over half a million of gallons 
in twenty-four hours, of a temperature of 81°. 

Kissinc/cn. Well in Bavaria. — This is even deeper than the Grenelle well, beinir 
one thousand ciuht hundred and seventy-eii^ht feet; the last hundred and thirty- 
eight and a half feet passes through rock salt. From this well one hundred 
cubic feet of water gushes forth every miuutc. The water contains three and a 
quarter per cent, of salt. 

Aire in Artois, in the monastery of St. Andre. This well was borod more 
than a century ago and has flowed steadily ever since. The water rises elevt-n 
feet above the ground and supplies nearly two hundred and fifty gallons per 
minute. 

Charh^ton TT' /?, in Charleston, South Carolina. This well has been sunk to 
the depth of one thousand two hundred and fifty feet, and j'ields thirty thou- 
sand gallons in twenty-four hours, flowing ten Icet above the suriace. Another 
is now being bored at the same place, twelve inches in diameter, and it has 
already reached the depth of one thousand feet. 

Ji'kJur's Well, in St. Louis, Missouri, was commenced in 1840, and completed 
in 1854. The water does not answer the purpose for which it was undertaken. 
The amount of water flowing from it is one hundred and eight thousand gallons 
in twenty-four hours. Its depth is two thousand one hundred and ninety-nine 
feet. 

Lnfiiyette Wdl. — An Artesian Well has lately been made in Lafayette City, 
Indiana, of a depth of two hundred and thirty feet. The water rises a few feet 
above the surface, with the flow of four gallons per minute. This is a mineral 
water, co^itainina" about four hundred grains of solid matter to the gallon. Dr. 
Charles 31. Wetherill has lately made an interesting report upon it. 

I)it J-'ouf's Art()>i(in Well. — This work was commenced in April, 1857, from the 
bot-tom of one of the wells of the factory, that has a depth of twenty feet; the 
boring tools employed made a hole five inches in diameter to the depth of 
seventy-six feet from the surface; the boring was now reduced to three inches, 
and thus continued to the bottom of the well, a depth of two thousand and 
eighty-six feet. The flow of water is three hundred and thirty thousand gallons 
in twenty-four hours, and the elevation above the surface one hundred and 
seventy feet. 

The rock struck, which geologically belongs to the ''Devonian series," is for 
thirty-eight feet shell limestone, then for forty feet coraline limestone; at which 
depth the upper silurian is reached. Without being able to make out, with any 
degree of certainty, the amount of upper silurian passed through, we suppose it 
to be over one thousand two hundred feet. At the depth of one thousand six 
hundred feet n. sand rock was reached, doubtless of the lower silurian. and 
ninety-seven feet deeper was encountered the first stream of water which reached 
the surface. This flowed out abundantly and with much force. The quantity 
not being sufilcient, the boring was continued. Afcer this, it was unnecessary 
to use the bucket to take out the material detached by the borer, the force of 
the water bringing up the fragments very readily. The water increased in 
quantity in going 'hopor. the increase being more marked at one thousand 
eight hundred and seventy-nine feet, and still more at one thousand nine hun- 
dred feet, wh(ni pieces of rock weighing an ounce or two came up with the 
water. The water increased every ten or twenty feet to the depth of two thou- 
sand and thirty-six feet; here a very hard magnesian limestone was encountered 
six feet in thickness. After which the sand rock reappeared, and for the next 
fifty feet there was no increase of water. 



48 DU FONTS ARTESIAN WELL. 

The followin<:^ table extibits the appearance of the rock as far as it is possible 
to make it out by the fine fragments taken out at difierent depths: 

For seventy-six feet, sand and gravel. 

Next one hundred feet, tolerably pure limestone, with fragments of fossils. 

Next twelve feet, soft limestone mixed with clay. 

Next fifty-two feet, tolerably pure limestone mixed with fossils. 

Next five feet, limestone with ferruginous clay. 

Next eighty-one feet, gray limestone. 

Next one hundred and ten feet, limestone mixed with clay. 

Next one hundred and forty-nine feet, tolerably pure limestone with many 
portions quite white. 

Next thirteen feet, clay shale with little calcareous matter. 

Next two hundred and seven feet, limestone with a little blue clay shale. 

Next thirty-three feet, same, a little darker and more shale. 

Next ninety-four feet, pure, very white limestone with fossils, alternating with 
very dark limestone (color likely from organic matter) with some dark shale. 

Next twenty-six feet, shaly limestone. 

Next forty feet, very light and hard pure limestone. 

Next one foot, white clay. 

Next five hundred and forty-six feet, gray limestone, alternating hard and 
soft. 

Next forty-one feet, sand rock, white. 

Next four feet, same, very fine and hard, with little limestone. 

Next sixty feet, same, with more limestone. 

Next seventy-two feet, same, with less limestone. 

Next three hundred and eight feet, same sand rock, with but little limestone. 

Next six feet, magnesia limestone, very hard. 

Next fifty feet, sand rock again. 

At the urgent request of many citizens of Louisville, the boring was now 
stopped to give a fair test of the medical virtues of the water that was pouring 
forth at the rate of two hundred and thirty gallons per minute, or about 
three hundred and thirty thousand gallons in twenty-four hours. The water 
by its own pressure rises in pipes one hundred and seventy feet above th« 
surfiice. The boring was accomplished in sixteen mouths, and the depth reached 
is two thousand and eighty-six feet, which depth we can better conceive of by 
referring to corresponding bights, as represented by spires in our city; imagine 
seven such spires as that of the Catholic Cathedral piled on each other. In 
order to conduct the water to the surface and prevent its passing ofi" into i\\e 
gravel beds below, a tube five inches in diameter leads from the surface to the 
rock, a depth of seventy-six feet, into which it is driven with a collar of vulcan- 
ized gum clastic around it. No tubing is found necessary for any other part 
of the boring. 

When the size of the bore, (three inches in diameter,) and its depth are con- 
sidered, the flow of water from the well is unequalled by any other Artesian 
Well yet constructed that flows above the surface, for although the Grenelle 
well at Paris delivers six hundred thousand gallons in twenty-four hours, it 
has at the bottom an area six times as great as the Dupont well, and a few 
hundred feet up seven times as great. A corresponding diameter to Dupont'e 
well, would, according to just and reasonable calculations, furnish about two 
millions gallons in twenty-four hours; also, the elevation of the water above the 
surface is greater than that of any other Artesian Well, and only exceeded in 
depth by the St. Louis well, and that to an extent of but one hundred and 
thirteen feet. 

The water comes out with considerable force from the five-inch opening, and 



DU font's artesian well. 49 

a heavy body thrown into the mouths of the well is rejected almost as readily as 
a piece of pine wood. By an approximate calculation, its mechanical force is 
equal to that of a steam engine with a cylinder often by eighteen inches, under 
fifty pounds pressure, with a speed of fifty-five revolutions per minute, a force 
rated at about ten horse power. The top of the well is now closed, and the 
water conducted about twenty feet to a basin with a large jie^ d'eau in the cen- 
ter, from which there is a central jet of water forty feet in height, with a large 
water pipe, from which the water passes in the form of a sheaf. "When the 
whole lorce of water is allowed to expend itself on the central jet, it is projected 
to the height of from ninety to one hundred feet, settling down to a steady flow 
of a stream sixty feet high. 

The water, as it flows from tho top of the well, has a constant temperature 
of 7(J^° Fahr., and is not affected either by the heat of summer or the cold of 
winter. The temperature at the bottom of the well is seven degrees higher than 
this, as ascertained by sinking a Walferdin's regestering thermometer to the. 
bottom, which indicated 82^° Fahr. Taking as correct data, that the point of 
constant temperature below the surface of Louisville is the same as at Paris, viz: 
53° Fahr., at ninety feet below the surface, we have an increase of 1° of tem- 
perature for every sixty-seven feet below that point. The increase in Paris is 
1° for every sixty-one and two-tenths feet. The temperature of the water is 
sufficient for comfortable bathing during most of the year, a circumstance that 
will be of considerable importance, if it ever be turned to the use of baths. The 
reason of the difference of 6° between the water at the bottom of the well and 
at the top is, that the iron pipe leading from the surface to the rock passes 
through a stratum of water sixty feet thick, having a temperature of 57°. 

The question naturally arises, if the vein of water supplying this well has a. 
connection with some distant source higher than the surface of Louisville, 
where is that source? From all that we have been able to learn of the geology. 
of this country, taking Louisville as a center, the first rocks encountered cor- 
responding to the sand rock (in which the water of the Artesian Well was 
struck) are in Mercer, Jessamine and Garrard counties, near Dix creek, to the- 
east of Harrodsburg. The rocks there are said to be cavernous and water bear- 
ing. The elevation is about five hundred feet greater than Louisville, and about 
seventy-five miles in a straight line from tho city. This being the most proba- 
ble source of the water, from whence comes its mineral constituents? These 
are obtained from the rocks through which it percolates in its way from its 
source to the point below Louisville where it has been tapped, and where it 
will doubtless flow in undiminished quantity for centuries to come, as wells 
having such deep sources as this are usually inexhaustible. 

The water is perfectly limpid, with a temperature, as already stated, of 76^°, 
which will be invariable all the year round. Its specific gravity is 1.0113. 
The solid contents left on evaporating one wine gallon to dryness, are 915^ 
grains, furnishing on analysis: 

GRAINS. 

Chloride sodium, 621.5204 

" calcium, 65.7287 

" magnesium, 14.7757 

" potassium, 4.2216 

*' aluminum, 1.2119 

" lithium, 0.1012 

Sulphate soda, 72.2957 

" lime, 29.4342 

" magnesia, 77.3382 

" alumina, 1.8012- 

4 



50 Du font's aetesian well. 

GRAINS. 

Sulphate potash, 3.2248 

Bicarbonate soda, 2.7264 

" lime, 5.9915 

" magnesia, 2.7558 

" iron, 0.3518 

Phosphate soda, 1,5415 

Iodide magnesium, 0.3547 

Bromide magnesium, 0.4659 

Silica, 0.885T 

Organic matter, 0.7082 

Loss in analysis, , 8.1231 

915,5582 

OASES IN ONE GALLON. 

Sulphuretted hydrogen, 2.0050 

Carbonic acid, 6.1720 

Nitrogen, 1.3580 

This water is very analogous in composition to the far-famed Kissingen 
water of Bavaria, and of Blue Lick in Kentucky. The following tabular state- 
ment will afford a comparison of these three waters by the number of grains of 
solid matter in one gallon : 

Du Pontes Well. Kissingen. Blue Lick. 
SMITH. KASTNER. PETEn. 

Chloride sodium, 622 517 533 

" calcium, 66 

" magnesium, 15 58 83 

" potassium, 4 7 2 

" aluminum, 1 2 

" lithium, 1-10 trace 

Sulphate soda, 72 16 

" lime, 29 21 33 

" magnesia, 77 

" alumina, 2 4 

" potash, 3 ... 9 

Bicarfeonate soda, 3 7 

" lime, 6 29 23 

" magnesia, 3 21 1 

" iron, ^ 6 

" strontia, trace 

Phosphate soda, 2 2 

Iodide magnesium, ^ trace 

Bromide magnesium, ^ 5 ^ 

Silica, 1 "^ 16 1 

In the analysis of the Blue Lick water. Professor Peter estimates the alumina, 
phosphoric acid, and iron compounds under one head. We have, therefore, 
not been able to carry them out separately. In the analysis of the Kissingen 
water, by Kastner, the alumina is estimated separately, and, in his combining 
• the acids and bases, formed by analysis, he has thought proper not to combine 
any of the chlorine with the calcium, nor any of the sulphuric acid with potash. 
; Had this been done, the similarity of these waters would have been even more 
striking. It is well to remark, for the benefit of the general reader, that the 
chemist in analysing mineral water, discovers by direct process, the amount of 
acids and bases, and by subsequent calculation determines how they are com- 



DU font's artesian well. 51 

bined so as to form the various salts, as for instance : by one process, the 
amount of sulphuric acid is determined ; by three others, the soda, lime, and 
potash. As to what portion of the last three arc combined with the sulphuric 
acid, this he does not arrive at by analysis, but by calculation; and as there is 
no one data for making these calculations, different chemists may differ in the 
way they state the salts, although they may agree exactly in regard to the 
ijuantity of acids and bases in these salts. Were the analysis of these mineral 
waters all calculated on the same basis, their similarity would have been better 
contrasted, but I preferred giving the analysis of each one as it appeared before 
the public, made by able and well known chemists. As regards the gaseous 
contents, the Kissingen does not contain any sulphuretted hydrogen gas. The 
Du Pont and Blue Lick contain within a small fraction of the same amount. 

As it has been often asked, what is the difference between this water and 
that of the Congress Springs at Saratoga? I would state that the last contains 
three hundred and eighty-five grains of common salt to the gallon, and differs 
from that of Du Font's Well in the large amount of carbonic acid, and the 
larger proportion of carbonate of lime and carbonate of magnesia, and in the 
absence of the sulphates; the proportion of solid constituents is also less in 
{Saratoga water. The Blue Lick Spring, situated in Nicholas county, Kentucky, 
is so well known in this country that it is unnecessary to make any statements 
concerning it. The Kissingen Spring not being so well known, a few remarks 
concerning it would be in place. These springs are situated in the Northern 
part of Bavaria ; and it is in this neighborhood that one of the Artesian Wells, 
mentioned in this report, has been bored, but it has no relation with the springs 
that have rendered this place so celebrated for a number of years. Since 1821 
these springs have attracted special notice, and there have been no less than 
ten or twelve lengthy reports made upon them since that time, by the best 
chemists and physicians of Germany. Of the several springs in Kissingen, the 
most famous is the Rakoczy, and every year there are upwards of five hundred 
thousand bottles of water sent from it to all parts of the world. It is to the 
water of this spring that chemical analysis shows the water of the Du Pont well 
to be closely allied. 

Before making the medical report on this water, I would state that mineral 
waters are, like other medicinal agents, only to be used under the judicious 
advice of intelligent physicians. Mineral waters, in the treatment of disease, 
take a place between medical and dietetic treatment, and become eminently 
useful in a variety of diseases that require, for the cure or alleviation, the con- 
tinued use of some mild and gentle remedy, that may be taken in connection 
with the ordinary drink and food. Perhaps there is nothing which puzzles the 
physician more than the peculiar virtues of many mineral waters. After the 
chemist has analyzed them, they are found to contain many well known constit- 
uents, some in very small quantities; and it seems impossible with our present 
knowledge, to reason fully as to what the medical nature of a mineral water will 
be from its chemical composition. The great value of the chemical analysis is 
to compare the composition of one water with another whose medical virtues 
are well established. It is upon this basis that the following general remarks 
are made, as to what we may expect from the Du Pont Artesian Well water. 

The peculiar benefit arising from the use of saline waters to the mucous mem- 
brane of the stomach and digestive canal, is sufliciently well established by the 
daily use wbich both man and animal make of saline substances. If taken 
moderately they excite the appetite, and are looked upon as a mild and effica- 
cious aid to digestion ; in still larger doses they excite in a more marked manner 
the entire mucous lining of the intestinal canal, extending to the liver; and, 
taken into the circulation, their effects are felt in all secretive and excretive 



52 DU FONTS ARTESIAN WELL. 

organs, as the kidneys, etc. From what we can arrive at by the composition of 
this water, in connection with the known virtues of similar mineral waters, this 
water is certainly calculated to meet as large a variety of those diseased, who 
resort to mineral waters for relief, as any other known spring; for the great 
portion of invalids using mineral waters, suffer from some derangement of the 
mucous membrane of the intestinal canal, or of the serous surface of the joints, 
embracing the various forms of dyspepsia and rheumatism. But we will pro- 
ceed to specify the applicability of this water. 

The single term dyspepsia implies a variety of diseases by which the digestive 
organs are impaired, and, although no one treatment can apply to them all, this 
mineral water will meet as large a variety of them as any other. In cases of 
dyspepsia, whether caused by irritation or weakness, the continued and judicious 
use of sulphur saline water frequently effects a cure, as in that relaxed condition 
of the mucous membrane in the stomach and intestinal canal of elderly persons, 
where a very large amount of mucous is secreted without a proper portion of 
the other healthy secretions; also, where the stomach has been deranged by 
excess of either eating or drinking. 

Costiveness is a very frequent accompaniment of the above disease, or it may 
arise from a torpid condition of the intestines alone, without any complication 
with the stomach; in either case good results may be expected from proper use 
of this water. But we must not be astonished if laxative effects are not pro- 
duced by the water when the action of the skin is defective. The skin must 
first be brought into proper action by the bath or other proper medical treat- 
ment. 

When derangements of the liver do not arise from organic disease of the 
liver, but it has become affected sympathetically, or by its connection with the 
stomach and intestines, this water may be resorted to with good effect. In 
other diseases in which defective digestion or assimilation seems to be the prime 
cause, as in gravel, gout, etc., the use of this water may give relief. 

Nervous diseases arising from derangement in the blood, or from local causes, 
as those violent headaches from indigestion or functional derangements of the 
stomach. The water removing the cause removes the disagreeable nervous 
symptoms. 

As regards the effects of the water on mucous membranes, besides that of the 
intestinal canal, we are not prepared to assert anything, although the distin- 
guished German writer, on mineral waters, Dr. Vetter, states that the saline 
waters at Baden-Baden, when taken internally, exert a beneficial effect on 
chronic catarrh, leuchorae, etc. 

This water acts on the kidneys; in part, on account of its constituents, and 
in part, from the water alone. 

It is beyond all dispute that waters containing salt have a healthy action upon 
the glandular system, and when there is iodine present, however small tho 
quantity may be, continued use of the water is sure to be felt by that system. 
This substance, iodine, was discovered in 1811, and very shortly afterwards its 
medical virtues were ascertained, and it now ranks among the most important 
medical remedies. Within the last few weeks additional attention has been 
called to the subject by Dr. Boinet, in a communication made to the Academy 
of Medicine, in Paris. The doctor proposes th^ introduction of iodine into the 
daily food of persons laboring under any of the forms of this disease, such as 
worms, cretinism, enlarged glands, etc. Wherever iodine, he states, is abund- 
antly diffused throughout the air, these disorders are rarely seen, and that the 
energy of the vital functions is in the direct ratio of the quantity of iodine ex- 
isting in the animal economy. He proposes to iodize bread, cakes, sirups, etc., 
etc., simply by the introduction of such plants as naturally contain iodine, 



DUrOXT's ARTESIAN WELL. 53 

viz: all kinds of sea-weeds and cruciferous plants, or else by using the water of 
iodized springs, or salts containing the same principle. Under these forms the 
quantity of iodine administered is so small as to communicate no jieculiar taste 
to tlie edible substance. After ten years' experience, during which Dr. Boinet 
has treated children specially selected by a physician of a Bureau de Jiirnfah- 
ance for their scrofulous habit, he has come to the conclusion that the diet he 
proposes, if persevered in for some months, will not only cure scrofula but 
ulcerous habits, diseases of the skin, opthalmia, caries of the bones, etc. The 
Academy of Medicine has referred Dr. Boinet's paper to a commission composed 
of Drs. Chatin and Trousseau. If there be any correctness in Dr. Boinet'.s 
statement, all mineral waters containing iodine will be invested with new inter- 
est. Sufficient has been said to give a correct idea of the medicinal properties 
of the water of Du Font's Artesian Well, and to direct those interested in the 
subject as to what may be expected from its internal use. 

The external use of this water will be doubtless found of great benefit, and if 
the proprietors should determine to apply fully its medicinal properties, they 
will have to construct proper baths. In most instances, and for the greater 
portion of the year, the water can be used at the temperature it has on flowing 
from the well; but for many purposes they will have to elevate the temperature 
20 or 30 degrees. Thus supplied, sulphur saline waters are well known to be 
beneficial for a A'ariety of diseases of the skin, scrofulous afiections, and lym- 
phatic tumors of every description, gout, rheumatism, etc. In several of the 
diseases it would be proper to use the baths warm, as will be advised by those 
physicians who may direct the patients. 

In addition to the above, it may be applied beneficially in many diseases of 
those mucous membranes that are accessible by washing, or by injection, as in 
certain diseases of the mucous membranes of the eye, etc. In reporting on the 
medical virtues of this water, I have purposely avoided any reference to those 
cases which have been cured, or supposed to be cured by it; for I have not 
traced out any of them, as I did not conceive any record of the kind would be 
of much value in so short a history of the water, but I have preferred to give 
my opinion of its virtues from its composition, and from the known virtues of 
similar waters. The opinions are little else than the reflections of those of 
physicians in this country, Germany, France, and elsewhere, who have paid 
especial attention to the medical properties of mineral springs, and who arc 
engaged in giving advice on the subject. In conclusion, I would remark that 
an important feature in this Artesian Well is its admirable location. Situated 
in one of the healthiest cities in this or any other country, and that from year's 
end to year's end, where the spring, early summer, and autumn, have many at- 
tractions for tho.se seeking health or a temporary sojourn, prior to more Xorth- 
ern or more Southern journeyings. 

In addition to this. Louisville will in one year be connected by railroad with 
the South and Southwest, and inhabitants of those regions, who may sojourn in 
this city, will be seperated but a day or two from their plantations. In this 
report, I believe that no more than justice has been done to the hardy enter- 
yirise of the Messrs. Du Pont, the wonderful features of the well, or the medici- 
nal virtues of the water. 




1 IJiST l-JiKSIUTKltlAN CUUr.CU, GBEEN STREET, BETWEEN SIXTH AND CKXTER. 



HEALTH OF LOUISVILLE. 55 

HEALTH OF LOUISVILLE. 

The climatal position of the city of Louisville exempts her alike from the 
ravages of tropical diseases, and from the epidemic visitations of Typhus fever. 
Forster was the first naturalist who published the fact, that the interior valley 
of the North American Continent was singularly exempt from the extremes ot 
temperature that belong to the Atlantic coast. Thus, yellow fever has repeat- 
edly prevailed in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk and Portsmouth, 
whenever abnormal temperature was coincident with proportional humidity and 
decaying vegetable matter. But that tropical disease has never been above the 
35° of latitude in the interior valley, and only once at that point. Louisville 
is in the 38° of latitude, and is far above the highest northern limit of yellow 
fever in the interior valley, and far below the southern line of the Typhus fever 
zone. This geographical position furnishes ample security against the invasion 
of these forms of disease. 

In the early history of Louisville, a large portion of the city, that is now 
covered with buildings for business and habitation, was the seat of ponds and 
marshes, and in 1822, in the midst of intense solar heat, and frequent showers, 
the undrained and unpaved parts of the city were the seats of a most destruc- 
tive pestilence. She then acquired the reputation of being "the grave yard of 
the West." But this disaster pointed out the necessity and the means of sani- 
tary measures, and they have been pursued with as eminent success as has ever 
been attained any where by sanitary art. An extensive sanitary system was de- 
vised, under which ponds were filled or drained, and streets were graded, paved 
and sewered. In a direct ratio with the progress of these measures has been 
the redemption of the city from visitations of those forms of pestilence that 
spring from local conditions. In these great and enduring results, the people 
of Louisville have established the fact that "the evil which springs from the 
bosom of nature, only needs for its removal an observance of the rules which 
nature herself reveals." In the progi'ess of time, recurring seasons developed the 
spots in the city in which sanitary measures had not been perfected, and the 
useful lessons thus given have been heeded. In 1832, 1833 and 1849, cholera 
commenced in precisely the same square, each successive time, within a few 
yards of its preceding visitation. These occurrences pointed infallibly to a 
local cause, dependent upon a local condition. In 1849 this thrice visited spot 
was thoroughly improved, and from that time to the present, nothing of its for- 
mer affliction has occurred in that locality. Every spot in Louisville that was 
at any time the seat of this pestilence, and that has undergone sanitary measures 
that completely changed the character of the topography, has been perfectly ex- 
empt from that disease ever since the change was perfected. 

In precisely an analogous way, intermittent and remittent fevers have been 
banished. When Jefierson street was a string of marshes, it was the seat of au- 
tumnal fevers. After it was graded and paved, it ceased to produce those dis- 
orders. The same is true of Green, Walnut, Chestnut and Broadway, and of 
the eastern and western ends of those streets. Grading, paving, drainage and 
habitual improvements have converted them from seats of annual disease into 
sites of enduring liealthfulness. 

There are, however, additional reasons why Louisville possesses these endu- 
ring means of health. 8hc is one of the most perfectly ventilated cities in the 
world. She occupies the edge of an extensive level that spreads for miles south, 
east and west of her location, and the Ohio river is the northern boundary of 
this plateau. Iler streets are wide and cross each other at right angles, and .she 
is thus secure of thorough ventilation, the winds from every point of the com- 
pass having an unobstructed passage through the streets. 



56 HEALTH OF LOUISVILLE. 

Tubercular disease is not only a more rare aflFeetion in Louisville than it is in 
the eastern, northern, north-western and southern sections of our Continent, 
but it is generally more manageable. Those climatal conditions that pro- 
duce the aberration of nutrition that tends to the deposition of tuberculous mat- 
ter, are much less active, as all medical observation shows, in this region, than in 
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore or New Orleans. 

The diseases of infancy and childhood are greatly less frequent and disastrous 
in Louisville than elsewhere, and this fact is unquestionably due to the general 
healthiness of the city. Children have been described as constituting the out- 
posts of society, which first feel the invasions of disease. As the invasions are 
lessened or prevented, the perils of the outposts are lessened and prevented. 

The knowledge of these facts is the result of a long acquaintance with the 
subject, and of patient observation. The climatal conditions that produce dis- 
astrous diseases elsewhere are absent from this region. The topographical con- 
ditions whyjh, when present, invariably cause the ravages of well known forms 
of disease once existed here and produced their regular and necessary ravages. 
These conditions have been changed, and the results have been changed in a 
degree corresponding with the changed conditions. The philosophic observa- 
tions of three hundred years show that these triumphs of enduring health over 
diseases from local causes can be surely won, and point out the infallible means 
by which these victories of mind can be secured. The history of Louisville 
adds to the thousands of similar histories, abundant confirmation of the truth of 
these philosophic observations. The Duke of Tuscany has reclaimed from an- 
nual pestilence of the most fatal character, a large portion of the Mediterranean 
part of his duchy, and has made it permanently healthy by precisely such sani- 
tary means as have been successful in Louisville. The climatal and topo- 
graphic conditions of Louisville are such as enable medical philosophy to speak 
in positive terms of her pre-eminent claim to be regarded as one of the most 
healthful cities of the great interior valley of the North American Continent. 
As an ample corroboration of the truth of these statements respecting the pos- 
session of these sanitary conditions, we republish, from Casseday's History of 
Xouisville, published in 1852, the following indications of vital statistics: 
In Louisville the. deaths are 1 to 50 

Philadelphia do 1 36 

New York do 1 37 

Boston do 1 38 

Cincinnati do , 1 35 

Naples do 1 28 

Paris do 1 33 

London do 1 39 

Glasgow do 1 44 

Since this table was published in 1852, Louisville has improved in her vital 
statistics, and some of these cities have lowered their scale. For instance, in- 
stead of one death in 37 in the city of New York, recent facts show that there 
is one death for 28 inhabitants. 

This sanitary survey of Louisville, while pleasant and cheering in its general 
character, is greatly enhanced in value by the fact that a great deal of the 
triumph thus secured over the causes of disease, and by consequence over its 
ravages, is duo to the proper use of sagacity, cnterprize and well regulated and 
well directed sanitary wisdom. That which has been won by such means, can 
be maintained by their continual exercise, as all experience shows. 




CATHEDRAL, FIFTH STREET, BETWEEN OBEE^ AM) WALMJT. 



58 LOUISVILLE GAS COMPANY. 

LOUISVILLE GAS COMPANY. 



The Louisville Gas Company was incorporated the 15th Feb., 1838, with a 
capital of 8(300,000, for the term of thirty years from the 1st of January, 1839. 
The Company organized in the year 1838 by the subscription and payment of 
$232,300 by individuals, and the subscription of 8200,000 by the city of Louis- 
ville — 8100,000 of this sum the city paid by executing her bonds, bearing six 
per cent, interest, payable in thirty years; the other moiety of the sum subscribed, 
to be paid for by the profit on the 8100,000 of stock, paid for by bonds, after 
deducting the semi-annual interest on the bonds; the remainder placed to her 
credit as new stock semi-annually until the sum subscribed was paid in full. 
On the 3d January, 1859, the dividend completed the payment on the stock. 

The first division of the Gas Works was built in 1839, under the direction of 

5. V. Merrick, Engineer, of Philadelphia. (The Louisville Gas Works were the 
first constructed in the Western States, and the fifth in the United States.) 
Gas was first supplied to the citizens on the 25th December, 1839. The Gas 
Works then consisted of one Retort-house, with one bench of six ovens set with 
18 large D retorts, one Purifying-house, with one set of dry lime purifiers, one 
set of condensers, one plunge washer, two gas holders, each 40 feet diameter 
and 18 feet high, with capacity to store 45,000 cubic feet of gas, a Meter-house 
and one station meter, 72 street lamps, and G^ miles of street main. 

The second division of the Gas Works was built in 1848, under the supervi- 
sion of John Jefi"rey, Engineer. The addition consisted of one bench of six 
ovens, set with 18 retorts, one washer, one set of condensers, one set of puri- 
fiers, one station meter, and a governor, all placed in the original buildings ; a 
gas holder 60 feet diameter, 22 feet high, capacity 62,000 cubic feet; an engine 
house, engine and pump to supply the Works with water. At the close of the 
year 1848, there were 16 miles of street main and 461 street lamj^s. 

Under the direction of John C. Cresson, Engineer, of Philadelphia, in 1855, 
the fourth gas holder was constructed ; it is 87^ feet diameter and 31^ feet 
high ; capacity 187,000 cubic feet. 

In the year 1857, under the same direction, the Gas Works were enlarged by 
the addition of a Retort-house 109 by 53 feet, with foundations for two benches, 
one of twelve ovens, the other often. One bench of ten ovens was built and 
set with thirty large D retorts, a Purifying-house 67 by 30 feet, with one set of 
condensers, one set of refrigerators, one set of jet-washers, and one set of puri- 
fiers, with apparatus complete to purify the gas from 30 retorts. A station 
meter, with capacity to measure 400,000 cubic feet per day, made by Code, 
Hopper & Co., of Philadelphia; a lime-house, with cellar to contain heating ap- 
paratus, a dwelling for the superintendent, a blacksmith shop, and a coal-house 
121 by 80 feet, with a bridge 130 feet long connecting the house with Washing- 
ton street, on which street the Gas Works front 237^ feet, extending 510 feet 
deep. 

The Gas Works now have G6 retorts, with capacity to produce 280,000 cubic 
feet per day, with sufiicient room in the buildings to add 36 retorts and the pu- 
rifying apparatus. With this addition, the Works can produce 433,000 cubic 
feet per day. 

The Gas Company have now laid 35 miles 2157 feet of street mains, 2, 3, 4, 

6, 10, and 12 inch ; 925 street lamps, 2879 private service pipes. 

The annual increased production of gas by these Works will give some idea 
of the steady progression of the city. The following statement shows the pro- 
duct of gas each year to the present time: 



LOUISVILLE GAS COMPANY. 59 

1840 6,545,810 cubic feet 

1841 8,850,320 " " 

1842 9,911,380 " " 

1843 10,221,400 " " 

1844 10,G12,190 " " 

1845".'.!.! 11,000,750 " " 

1846 11,630,510 " " 

1847 13,857,350 » " 

1848 15,729,140 " " 

1849 18,493,670 " " 

1850 21,178,410 " " 

1851 22,906,300 " " 

1852 23,881,100 " " 

1853 28,755,900 " " 

1854 35,526,600 " " 

1855 35,609,500 " " 

1856 38,536,700 " " 

1857 42,401,500 " " 

1858 47,512,100 " " 

During the past year an average of 42 men were employed daily by tbe Com- 
pany, and I85 lamp lighters. 

In the year 1857 the city derived profit from the Louisville Gas 

Company 821,189 45 

Also in the year 1858 23,060 87 

City's profit for two years §44,256 32 

The interest on her $100,000 of Bonds paid by the 

Gas Co. for two years §12,000 00 

The cost of City Lamps in 1857 16,023 18 

" " " " 1858 17,399 31 

§45,422 49 
The two past years the profit of the city from the Louisville Gas Co. has paid 
the interest on §100,000 of Bonds, and the street lamps within §1,166 17. 
Capital Stock, Jan. 3 J, 1859. 

Louisville City Stock, paid for by Bonds §100,000 

" " " « " " Dividends on Stock 

after deducting the annual interest on Bonds 100,000=§200,000 

Stock held by individuals 281,400 

§481,400 
Capital Invested. 

Real Estate, site for Gas Works, §18,801 09 

<' Office 0,738 20 

Gas Works, Building and Machinery 180,837 58 

Street Mains 155,032 71 

" Lamps 20,003 00 

Service Pipes 23,471 08 

Meters 28,200 00 

§440,349 78 



LOUISVILLE WATER WORKS. 61 

LOUISVILLE WATER WORKS. 

The advantages to be derived frona a ready supply of pure water, and unlimi- 
ted iu its quantity, can scarcely be over estimated by any coninmnity. The 
social and manufacturing interests of Louisville have long desired it, and the 
rapid growth of the city now demands it as a necessity. This want had been 
felt for a long time, but no steps had been taken towards so useful an object, 
until the latter part of 1853, when application was made to the Legislature for 
the purpose of obtaining a charter and incorporating a company. This com- 
pany, under the title of " The Louisville Water Company," was incorporated by 
an Act of Assembly, approved March 6, 1854, "with power and authority to 
construct and establish water works within the city of Louisville or elsewhere, 
for the purpose of supplying said city and its inhabitants with water." By the 
terms of their charter, the capital stock was limited to 10,000 shares of §100 
each, and they were authorized to issue their bonds for that amount and to se- 
cure them, if necessary, by a mortgage of their lands and water rents. 

The same instrument provides that water shall be furnished to the citizens of 
Louisville at a rate not exceeding the average price of the cities of Pittsburg, 
Cincinnati and St. Louis. 

The history of like corporations in other cities manifests the sound policy of 
placing them under municipal control and making them the common property 
of the citizens. This was evidently the wish of the Legislature, and has been 
warmly recommended in the first report of the President and Directors of the 
Company. 

The Charter provides that "The city of Louisville may, at any time, purchase 
the said corporation, its franchise and all its personal and real property by pay- 
ing therefor such a sum, as together with its receipts will reimburse the whole 
amount expended, with an annual interest of ten per cent., and from and after 
the execution of the conveyance the said city of Louisville shall have the right 
and be subject to all the duties in this act expressed as to corporation." 

Though the charter was obtained March 6, 1854, little was done for some 
time toward organizing the company with a view to efficiency, but application 
having been made to the General Council of the city, that body passed an ordi- 
nance approved June 30, 1856, entitled "An ordinance to promote the creation 
of Water Works in the city of Louisville." 

By this ordinance the Mayor of the city was directed to subscribe for 5,500 
shares of stock in the Company, and to pay for them in bonds of the city, at 
SIOOO each, payable 30 years after May 1, 1857, with interest at 6 per cent., 
payable semi-annually. 

The same ordinance, among other provisions to secure the payment of the 
bonds, authorized a tax often cents on each §100 of real and personal property, 
which might be lessened according to circumstances mentioned in the ordinance. 

The city charter requires that an ordinance of the above character shall be 
submitted to a vote of the qualified voters of the city in order to receive their 
sanction before passing into operation. At an election held on the Gth Septem- 
ber, 1850, the question was accordingly submitted with the following lesult: 
For the subscription 1,415; against 370, leaving a majority of 1,045 in favor of 
the ordinance. 

In July 1857, the city paid her subscription to the Company in bonds as di- 
rected by the above ordinance. The subscription for the stock of the Company 
by private individuals has, up to the present time, amounted to only ?5.100. 
Thus far the Company has been so conducted as to render practicable the gene- 
ral desire, that the works when completed shall become the property of the city. 
About 8220,000 are required to complete the works. The City Councils have 



62 LOUISVILLE WATER WORKS. 

passed an ordinance in most respects similar to that above mentioned for the 
purpose of completing the works. This was submitted to a vote of the people 
and carried by a large majority in April of the present year. 

The grounds of the company are located on the Ohio river, about one mile 
and a half beyond the city limits, and contain 120 acres of land most beauti- 
fully diversified by bights, from which may be had an extensive view of the 
city and surrounding neighborhood for many miles. This large tract is covered 
with majestic trees, and with taste and but little expense, may be converted into 
a most delightful resort. The natural beauties of the place are unsurpassed by 
any possessed by similar works in the country, and excite unqualified admiration. 

The location has been carefully selected with a view to obtain for the city a 
copious supply of pure water. No better selection could have been made. It 
is far removed from those ofiensive drainages which are, in a great measure in- 
separable from a close proximity to a large city, and the organic impurities 
which render a pure supply of water in many places difficult, if not impossible, 
arc here unknown. The shore of the river above the inlet-pipe, for a distance 
of about four miles, has a clear gravel beach, and is washed at all stages of the 
river by a lively current. The point from which the water is taken is about 
three and one third miles above the foot of Third street. 

It will be interesting to most of our readers to have a sketch of the manner 
in which the water works now in course of erection are planned, and the method 
by which the city will be supplied. 

A large inlet-pipe extends from the pump wells in the engine-house into the 
river to a depth of seventeen feet of water when it is in its lowest stage. The 
distance from the engine-house to this point is 300 feet. This pipe is fifty in- 
ches in its inside diameter, and terminates in and is secured to a crib, built of 
oak timber, sunk and retained in its position by broken stone with which it is 
filled. To the mouth of the inlet-pipe an iron grating is attached, which may 
be removed at any time to be cleaned. The water passes from the river into 
the inlet-pipe through this grating, which acts as a strainer. In order to re- 
move any deposit found in this pipe, there is a communication between it and 
the stand pipe by a pipe and valve separate from the main pump, by which the 
entire head of water in the stand pipe or reservoir can be at pleasure applied to 
the inlet-pipe, and thus scour and clean it. 

The water for the supply of the city will be elevated by two purely Cornish 
engines, exact duplicates, each of which is by itself capable of furnishing the 
necessary supply. Thus in case of accident, or when,^or any reason, it is 
deemed proper to stop one engine, the supply will not be suspended. They will 
be worked week about, and are of the following dimensions: The steam cylin- 
ders are 70 inches in diameter ; stroke of piston 10 feet. They will have a 
double and equal walking beam, 15 feet 11 inches from the main center to the 
end center, making the total length of beam 31 feet 10 inches. Each engine 
is of 200 horse power, and is capable of elevating over 3,500,000 gallons of 
water in eleven hours, which is the quantity at present sufficient. The pumps 
are so arranged that these engines can supply any quantity the necessities 
of the city may hereafter require. Connected with each engine there will be 
three boilers, six feet in diameter and 30 feet long. 

The plunger of the main pump will be three feet in diameter, with a stroke of 
ten feet, and will elevate at each stroke 529 gallons of water in the reservoir. 

The stand pipe will be made of boiler plate, four feet in diameter. The top 
of it will bfc 176^ feet above the extreme point of low water. It is to be erected 
in front of the engine house, at a distance of 60 feet from the main building. 
This pipe will be enclosed by a tower, the architecture of which will be in har- 
mony with that of the engine house. The entire hight of the stand pipe tower 



LOUISVILLE "WATER WORKS. 68 

will bo 202 feet above the extreme point of low water. The tower is surmoun- 
ted by ail observatory, to which access is had by means of a spiral stairwav on 
the inside. The elevation of this stairway is about 180 feet above the same low 
water mark, and from it the visitor may command a view of the city of J^ouis- 
ville. New Albany, Jeffersonville, the Falls of the Ohio, Utica, Twelve Mile 
Island, and the surrounding country. 

Connected with this stand pipe is the pump main, 30 inches in diameter and 
3,700 feet lon<;. It receives the water from the pumps at the stand pipe and 
conveys it to the reservoir. 

The reservoir will be built of earth puddled as its construction profrresses. 
At the base of the retaininu; embankments outside, it will be 500 feet loni^ and 
30-4 feet wide. The retaining embankments built of earth and puddled, are 
to be 24 feet high, 92 feet wide at the base, and 20 feet at the top. The 
slopes inside and outside 1^ feet horizontal, to 1 foot perpendicular. This 
reservoir will be divided into two equal parts by a division embankment 50 
feet at the base, 14 feet at the top, and 12 feet high. The two basins of 
the reservoir thus formed will be each 2-i feet deep. Among other advan- 
tages obtained by this division, a commotion of the water is prevented and the 
purification of the water by subsidence is consequently facilitated. The eleva- 
tion at the bottom will be 122^ feet above the extreme point of low water in the 
Ohio, and the top of the retaining embankments l-4fi^ feet above the same point. 
The bottom of the two basins and inside slopes of the retaining and division 
embankments of the reservoir will be lined with brick, laid in cement mortar. 
By having the reservoir deep and lined in this manner, vegetation upon the in- 
ternal slopes is prevented and the water is freed I'rom a most fruitful source of 
organic impurity. 

The engine house will be built of brick on a stone foundation 46 feet deep, 
and is now in course of construction. The top line of the water table of this 
foundation will be two feet above the extreme point of high water, or two feet 
above the highest known in the Ohio river, bringing the main or engine room 
floor two feet above the same water mark. This structure will comprise a main 
building and two wings. The main building or engine house proper wiil be 47 
feet front by 56^^ feet deep, and two stories high. The first story is 26 feet and 
the second 24 feet, making 50 feet to the top of the cornice. The boiler houses 
or wings are on each side of the main building, and will be 55i feet front, and 
32 feet deep of one story 28^ feet high, making an entire front of 158 feet. 

This house will be built in the Corinthian style. A beautiful colonade ex- 
tends in front of the main building and along its entire southern front, having 
four Corinthian columns 42 feet high, surmounted by an entablature eight feet 
high and a pediment of eleven feet. These columns stand outside from the 
main building 15 feet to the outside of their bases. The roofs of the building 
with the window caps of the lower windows will be pediments. The sheeting 
of the entire roof will receive a metalic covering and be supported by wrought 
iron trussed frames. These will be durable and render the building fire proof. 
On each end of the wings, 12 feet distant, there will be a chimney stack, with 
an octacronal base, the main shaft is round and the whole will rise to the hight 
of 120 feet. 

The whole has been planned and is under the superintendence of T. R. 
Scowden, Esq., a most skillful and experienced engineer in this department. 
The pipes are already cast, and will extend nearly thirty miles. The laying 
of the pipe is progressing rapidly. Over one third of the reservoir is curiipiefed, 
and the engines will be ready to be placed in the engine house in the l;ill oi' the 
present year. The water will be supplied to the city without doubt in the early 
part of 1860. 



C4 WATER POWER. 

WATER POWER AT LOUISVILLE. 

The Ohio river has been celebrated, ever since its discovery, for its gentle 
and uninterrupted flow for a distance of nearly one thousand miles through 
one of the finest valleys in the world. There is no interruption of its gentle 
current or break of its smooth surface, in all its long course, save one, and that 
one is here at Louisville. A ledge of solid, compact limestone stretches 
diagonally across the stream, over which it swells in its resistless course, and 
then makes its way for a distance of two miles, descending, as determined by 
different engineers, from 24 to 26 feet. These falls have ever been regarded 
by scientific and practical men as ofiering great advantages for manufacturing. 

About the beginning of the present century, the Water Power of the Falls 
was the subject of much attention and investigation. We find that it was 
always spoken of in connection with the proposed canal to improve the naviga- 
tion, and regarded as equal in importance to that interest. Thus, the first 
survey that was ever made of the Falls by a competent engineer, exhibits fully 
as much attention to the water power as to the navigation. This survey was 
made by Mr. Jared Brooks, and the very accurate map made of the Falls, 
Canal, "Water Works," &c., by him, now lies before me. It is entitled "A 
Map of the Rapids of the Ohio lliver, and of the countries on each side thereof, 
so far as to include the routes contemplated for Canal navigation. Respectfully 
inscribed to His Excellency Christopher Greenup, Governor of Kentucky, by 
his very obedient servant, J. Brooks. Engraved and printed by John Good- 
man, Frankfort, Kentucky, 1806." This map, for which I am indebted to my 
friend, Mr. William Forwood, of this city, gives the plan of the canal nearly 
as it has since been constructed, and also of extensive "water works." 

Had these works been constructed as contemplated by the Engineer, the 
canal would to-day be worth as much to community for manufacturing as it is 
for navigation, and would cost far less to keep it clear of mud than it now does. 

A section of this map gives an enlarged "Plan of the work below L (upper 
lock), including all the locks and acqueducts for the supply of 'water works,' 
and situations marked from 1 to 12 (mill sites), which may be extended to any 
required distance." In the "Notes," the author says: "The rapids are caused 
by a vast body of rock which crosses the course of the Ohio at this place, and 
obstructs the current until it swells over its top, and thence searches a passage 
down an irregular declivity to the lower end of Rock Island. The draught of 
the Falls reaches to the line before mentioned, crossing obliquely above the 
rapids, from whence the velocity of the current increases to the great break of 
the current at C; from thence to D, the current rates ten miles and 1066 yards 
an hour; from D to E, thirteen and a half miles an hour; thence to the lower 
end of Rock Island, nine miles and 900 yards an hour; in all, according to the 
course of the channel, 3366 yards in ten minutes and thirty-five seconds. * * * 
It is calculated that the canal will be sufiiciently capacious for a ship of four 
hundred tons. (No steamboat had as yet been seen on the Ohio). The water 
will be carried plane with the surface above the rapids, to the bank of the river 
below the whole falls, and then disposed of agreeable to the enlarged plan of 
the work below the letter L (upper lock); so that any required number of 
watcir works may be erected, and each benefitted by a perpendicular fall of 
water equal to the whole fall of the rapids, viz. 24 feet. The water works will 
stand upon a high and permanent bank, close under which js the main and only 
channel of that part of the Ohio, which seems to have been carved out of the 
rock for that purpose. Boats and vessels of any burthen that can descend the 
river, may lie alongside of the mills and store-houses, and lade and unlade 
with the greatest convenience imaginable. The land in the vicinity of the 



WATER POWER. 6) 

rapids, on both sides of the river, is generally of the first quality, and is so 
shaped as to afford beauty with convenience. That part situated within view 
of the rapids, is beyond description delightful." 

This Map of the Falls, by far the most accurate and complete we have ever 
seen, exhibiting every prominent rock, current, and eddy, and the forests on 
either side of the river as they stood at that early day, shows how feasible the 
development of the Water Power of the Falls was then considered. 

In tlie absence of the map in this work, we will explain to the reader that 
Mr. Brooks' plan for "water works" consisted of a couple of races taken out, 
one on either side of the main canal, just above the upper lock, and running 
parallel with the river bank, upward and downward, from which races short 
sidecuts were to be made at convenient distances for mills, and the water dis- 
charged into the river after it left the wheels. The race was to be extended 
down the river to any distance that might be required, thus furnishing room 
and power for an indefinite number of mills. 

That this was, and is, all perfectly practicable, no one at all familiar with the 
subject can doubt; and had it been carried into execution, simultaneously with 
the canal, Louisville would have been at this day one of the greatest manufac- 
turing cities in this country. A portion of the people of Louisville then 
opposed the construction of the canal, because it would destroy the business of 
transporting passengers and freight around the Falls, and a largo commission 
and forwarding business, by which a vast number gained a livelihood. To meet 
their objections, the friends of the enterprise urged the fact that the canal, 
when completed, would make Louisville one of the greatest manufacturing 
cities in America; thus, besides giving better employment to the persons con- 
cerned, it would be the means of drawing infinitely more people and more 
business to the place than could ever be realized without the canal. It was 
urged that a city, possessing all other advantages in the highest degree known 
to any in our country, and adding this unequalled water power above every 
other, could not fail to advance to the rank of the most populous and important 
of Western cities. Nor does it appear that any one looked upon the canal in 
those days as simply and solely to facilitate navigation. Water Power was in 
the mouths of all its advocates, whether in the halls of legislation, on the 
stump, or in the street. It was to serve the double purpose of navigation and 
manufacturing. How strange, then, that we should be told, at this day, that 
the canal can not spare the necessary water for manufacturing! With the 
whole Ohio river to feed it, men are afraid a number of mill-wheels will drain 
it dry! "The canal can not spare the water without reducing the depth so as 
to interrupt navigation." Yet not a canal can be found in America, if it has 
any fall, that is not used for manufacturing — no, not even the least of them, 
even where the "Seders" are miles distant from the point where the power is 
required; while on our canal we have an immense volume of water constantly 
pushing with great power, thus preventing any material decrease in the depth. 
This olijection is simply childish and ridiculous. 

Had our fathers been told that but half the original plan would be carried to 
completion by the year 1859, and that their sons would at this day not only be 
neglecting this boundless source of wealth and prosperity, but actually arguing 
themselves into the belief that the thing is impracticable, they would have 
denounced us as unworthy of our origin. 

The thing is and always has been practicable, and of such easy development, 
that we are amazed when we consider it. That a basin commanding the whole 
power of the Ohio river should stand there within a few yards of the river bank 
for a period of 29 years, at an elevation of 24 feet above the current passing be- 
neath it, and not be let into a mill wheel, is strange indeed. 
5 



^ WATER POWER. 

To show more clearly still the feasibility of the water power here, we will 
state that the plan as drawn by Mr. Brooks, and as the canal is now constructed, 
brings the water on the plane or level of the river above the falls to the upper 
lockf which is only a few rods from the river bank below the falls. The river 
bank at this point is composed of a very adhesive clay, or chiefly of this mate- 
rial, down to the black devonian slate, which at this point forms the floor of the 
ounal, and in which the locks are constructed. The land slopes down gradually 
from the upper lock toward the river, the main and only channel of which at 
low water is immediately under this bank. The water in the canal basin above 
the upper lock stands at an elevation of twenty -four f^et above the level oftheioater 
in the channel of the river just alluded to. By taking out the two races as drawn 
by Mr. Brooks, one extending up the river for a distance of half a mile or more, 
and the other down the river to any distance that may be desirable, water can 
be drawn from them on to mill wheels, by means of side cuts for a vast number 
of mills. To do this in the cheapest way let the raceS be extended only as de- 
manded for new mills. A few yards of race and one mill will develop the prin- 
ciple, and this can be done at lees cost than would be required to start an ordi- 
nary country mill, where a dam had to be constructed. This arrangement, it 
will be seen, will place the manufacturing establishments two miles distant 
from the business part of the city. To obviate this difiiculty, and also to place 
the mills entirely beyond the reach of high wator, we will suggest another plan, 
which we long since determined in our own mind was feasible, and in some res- 
pects preferable to the one just given. 

Just south of the canal, from fifty to one hundred yards, or perhaps more, 
there is a beautiful elevation forming the terminus toward the river of the vast 
plain or table land on which the city stands. This elevation or bluff", as it is 
usually called, forms a most beautiful feature of this unrivalled landscape, and 
runs parallel with the canal from its head to near its foot, the bluff" bending to 
the south with the river when opposite the locks, and the canal bending a little 
to the north at that point to enter the river. Immediately on the brow of this 
bluff" runs a fine wide street, two miles in length and well bouldered, called 
High street. The travel on it is immense, it being one of the great thorough- 
fares between this city and New Albany, on the opposite side of the river, 
below the falls. Between the bluff" and the canal there is a beautiful val- 
ley, which is generally a little lower between the bluff" and the canal than where 
the canal runs through it. Standing on this bluff" near the upper end of the 
canal, and looking down the valley westward, one will almost declare that na- 
ture made the valley for a race to run just at the foot of the bluff" parallel with 
the canal from end to end to receive the water drawn by hundreds of cross-cuts 
from the canal after it shall have turned as many wheels, and convey it off" into 
the river at the west end of the valley. This beautiful bl^ff" evidently seems 
to have been formed for hundreds of manufacturing establishments to stand 
upon, fronting on one of the prettiest streets in the world, while the elevated 
plane south gives room for tens of thousands of artisans and laborers to build 
their homes. 

Such a race it is believed can be made at a small cost as compared with the 
present canal. First, because it need not be more than half or one third as 
large ; and next, because it seems very probable it will miss the rock through 
which the canal is excavated. Several wells have been sunk on the south side 
of th« canal, which reveals the fact that the rock dips south very suddenly. 
Du Font's great Artesian Well is but a few rods south of it, and there it is 76 
feet to the rock, which must be many feet below the bottom of the canal. If 
the race were commenced at the lower end, and a mill constructed there, so as 
to develop the practicability of the plan, the expense as in the other plan would 



WATER POWER. C? 

be but small. Then it could be extended as required until the upper end of the 
line of mills would be quite in the business part of the city as the business i.< 
now located. The whole of the mills would then be on a high and beautiful 
plane, entirel}' out of the way of floods, ice, and drift. 

AVhen we consider the cheapness of water machinery as compared with steam, 
and the trifling cost of running it especially, it surely can not fail to strike 
every one as far preferable. Wc believe, as a general rule, water machinery 
does not cost more than one third as much as steam machinery in the first in- 
stance, and as to the cost of running it, there is so great a difference in favor of 
water machinery that it is as one to one hundred, or even less than that. The 
reason why steam is so generally adopted is because water power is so rarely 
found in favorable situations for manufacturing extensively. The power is far 
from the great markets, or from the raw material ; is difficult of access, 
or precarious and uncertain. Here it is otherwise in all these respects: 

1st. We have power equal to all the steam engines in Pittsburg, Cincinnati, 
and Louisville combined. 

2d. It is in one of the large cities of the country, and on one of the great 
rivers of the nation. 

3d. It is in the midst of raw material of all kinds, which can be had here as 
cheap as any where in America. 

Again : most water mills are situated on streams where they are exposed to 
the destructive force of floods, which carry away their dams, and damage the 
machinery or buildings. 

Here, nature built the dam, and it has stood since the world began. The 
mills will not be exposed to the floods, but will be inland, completely land 
locked ; and the power, while it is capable of driving a thousand mills, can not 
injure one of them. We do not believe that there is another place in America, 
if in the world, where there is such a combination of advantages for manufac- 
turing as here in the Falls City. We have stood and surveyed the mighty, the 
thundering, the terrific Niagara, and felt our whole being tremble with awe as 
we contemplated the power of the vast river in its headlong plunge to the gult 
below. But there are many difficulties to be overcome there before Niagara can 
be harnessed to the wheels of the manufacturer, that do not exist here. Millions 
of money must be raised to cut channels through that hard rock for many miles. 
The raw material is not so accessible, the land is poor, and the great city is not 
there. And besides every other advantage which we have named, all the raw 
material, and the manufactured articles, can here be shipped to and from the 
very doors of the mills by water. Not a cent of expense for drayage need be 
incurred. The canal running along the whole line of mills, will bring steam 
and all other vessels of the heaviest burden to the very doors of the mills. 

All the investigations and surveys, whether made by the authority of Con- 
gress or by that of the Legislature of Kentucky, fully demonstrate the fact that 
whether the object be to facilitate navigation or the development of the water 
power for manufacturing, the Kentucky side of the river is the place to con- 
struct the works. This is the unvarying testimony of every competent sur- 
veyor find engineer. The cost on this side will not be anything like so great 
as on the Indiana side. So they all testify in their published maps and re- 
ports. 



MANUFACTORIES. 69 

MANUFACTORIES. 



LUMBER MILLS. 

There are seven saw mills in the city, several of them running gang saws, 
besides the single saw, which is common to them all. One of them, also, runs a 
lath machine, which cuts laths faster than any machine we had seen before. 
These mills tire all first class saw mills, and are kept going all the time. The 
demand for lumber being equal to their utmost capacity. Very little, if any of 
it, is sold out of the city. They employ an aggregate capital of §160,000 ; 
about 60 hands; and their sales amount to 8175,000 a year. 

There is one saw mill which saws nothing but cedar lumber posts, scantling, 
and boards. This is a "portable saw mill," yet does a considerable business. 
The logs for this mill come from the Kentucky river. Notwithstanding the 
large amount of cedar lumber furnished by this establishment, we notice all the 
lumber yards keep a supply of the same articles. 

In this department we may also notice our 

PLANING MILLS. 

There are five of these, some of them equal in every respect to any we have ever 
seen, exhibiting in every department skill, order, neatness, economy, and eflS- 
ciency. The latest and most approved machines may here be seen working up 
to their full capacity from dawn to dark every day in the year on which it is 
lawful to work. They turn out doors, blinds, sash, frames, flooring, and 
mouldings equal to any in the United States, and also packing boxes for all 
kinds of goods. These five mills employ about one hundred hands, and do 
business to the amount of $200,000 a year. Orders for every kind of building 
work are neatly and substantially executed. Also all kinds of plain and fancy 
steamboat joiner-work. Some jobs of this kind turned out by one of these 
mills are equal to any ever seen on the western rivers. Louisville built steam- 
ers, it is generally admitted, exhibit more taste and elegance than those of any 
other place. They are an honor to our city where they are seen. One or two 
of our planing mills will be much enlarged this season, and a new one is now in 
course of construction. 

TANNERIES, CURRYING SHOPS, AND MOROCCO MANUFACTORIES. 

There are sixteen tan yards, all of which, we believe, have currying shops at- 
tached to them, and several of them manufacture large quantities of morocco. 
They employ a capital of S100,000, more than 100 hands, and do business to 
the amount of $456,800 a year. This interest is one of great and growing im- 
portance in Louisville. The facilities for procuring bark being greater here 
than at any other point give her important advantages. Besides the tanneries 
in the city, there are many in the surrounding country, and their leather is dis- 
posed of in this market. There ought to be a large manufactory of shoes and 
boots, or, rather, several of them here. We believe no point affords a bettor 
opening for enterprise and industry in this business than liouisvillc. The sales 
of these articles in this market are immense and annually increasing. When 
our railroad opens all south of us to this market, we may reasonably expect an 
unprecedented increase in the sales of boots and shoes. Let the men of indus- 
try and enterprise who can command a capital equal to the task of opening a 
new branch of business, come hither, then, and prepare to meet a large demand 
and reap a golden harvest. The demand is sure to come if invited by-adequate 
supplies and fair terms. 

BLACKSMITHING AND WAGON-MAKING. 

There are twenty-seven blacksmith and wagon-making shops. In these shops 
the wood work is carried on in one part of the establishment and the iron in 



70 MANUFACTORIES. 

another. Some of them are very large, and their machinery and facilities for 
manufacturing are of the latest and most approved descriptions. They employ 
a capital of $70,000, 170 hands, and do business to the amount of $200,000 a 
year. Two of these establishments have been long in the business here, and 
their work is known all through the South-west. The work of these shops 
speaks their merit wherever it is known, better than we can do it. They use 
good materials, and put them together in the most substantial manner. These 
shops do not include the ordinary blacksmith shops, which are very numerous. 

STEAMBOAT SMITHS. 

We use thi.s term to designate blacksmith work for steamboats, etc., without 
including the heavy forging of shafts, etc. There aro two shops of this descrip- 
tion., employing a capital of $20,000, 20 hands, and doing business to the 
amount of 8.35,000 a year. All kinds of steamboat work is done by them ex- 
cept the forging of heavy shafts as before stated. 

We will mention in this place that a vast amount of the same kind of work 
is also done in the different founderies and machine shops. Also that there is 
one shop for forging steamboat shafts, etc. It runs two hammers by steam 
power. Louisville now needs a much larger establishment of this latter kind — 
the most of the work of this heavy kind having to be done at Pittsburg. The 
present facilities can never supply the large and increasing demand for heavy 
forging. All the heavy wrought iron for our water works had to be obtained in 
Pittsburg; and one of our most valuable citizens and manufacturers lost his 
life in going up there to superintend the job. There is a fortune and a name 
for some enterprising man who will come to Louisville and establish a superior 
forging shop. 

BREWERIES. 

There are fourteen breweries in Louisville, and they employ an aggregate 
capital of §150.000, and 64 hands. They do business to the amount of §164,- 
000 a year. The immense quantities of barley consumed by these establish- 
ments is procured — for the most part — from the farms of the surrounding 
country. 

SHIP BUILDERS. 

There are three ship yards, at which about fifteen steamboats are built each 
year. Most of the boats built here are of a superior class — such as are used in 
the south-western waters. The character of the boats built at Louisville for 
speed, capacity, and elegance of finish is unsurpassed. A large proportion of 
those hulls built at Jeffersonville, Ind., are finished here. The amount of busi- 
ness done in this department is about §250,000 a year. 

GLASS WORKS. 

This branch of business was commenced here in 1850 by Mr. John Stanger, 
a practical glass manufacturer. There is one establishment of this kind, having 
one seven-pot furnace, and uses 80 tons of soda ash, 350 tons of sand, 1000 
bushels of lime, 75 barrels of salt, 25,000 bushels of coal, and $2,500 worth of 
lumber per annum. They employ $38,000 capital, and GO hands. They manu- 
facture $65,000 worth of ware, three fourths of which is sold in the city. The 
vast quantity of window-glass sold in this market makes it very desirable that 
a first class manufactory should be established here ; and we hope these worthy 
gentlemen — now so fully established in the glass business — will find it con- 
venient, as well as to their interest, to open such a factory here. 

There is also one glass-cutting factory here, where considerable business is 
done, and much more might be done. The work executed is well done, and the 
.shop deserves better patronage. Why do our people send their orders East, 
and thus leave their own mechanics to struggle against discouragmcnt ! We 



MANUFACTORIES. 71 

hope to see this establishment better sustained, as it deserves to be. It now 
does business to the amuunt of about $2,000 a year. 

GLASS-STAININO. 

There are .several establishments where this business is carried on, and we 
risk nothinsj; in sayina; that our mechanics can and do execute some of the finest 
and most elegant jobs in this line to be met with in the western country. The 
demand for this beautiful kind of work is increasing, and our city is well repre- 
sented, by practical mechanics of much skill and taste. 

COOPERS. 

The demand for cooperage has steadily increased for many years, and is still 
increasing faster than ever before. This is owing chiefly to the increase of the 
pork and beef packing, yet not altogether, for there has been a vast increase in 
the manufacture of flour the last few years. There are at present twenty-six 
cooper shops, many of them of large size. They employ §27,900 capital, 206 
hands, and do business to the amount of §200,000 per annum. The country 
adjacent to the city furnishes an immense amount of cooperage besides all that 
is made here. 

LUMBER YARDS. 

There are fifteen lumber yards, employing a capital of near 6500.000. They 
give steady employment to 60 hands, and their sales amount to about §1,000,- 
000 per annum. Some of these firms own extensive lumber lands, and also 
mills in the mountains, which are not reckoned in the above statement. 

IVORY BLACK. 

We have one establishment of this kind, which has existed for several years. 
The article being used chiefly in refining sugar, the sales are mostly to the 
South and at St. Louis. The article made here is equal to any, we believe, and 
can be supplied as fast as required. Why have we not a sugar refinery in Louis- 
ville ? It is one of the finest grocery markets in the whole country, and cer- 
tainly ought to be able to supply this article to her thousands of customers 
without having to be in the condition of a mere commission house for other 
cities. 

SOAP AND CANDLES. 

There are six of these establishments, two of them of immense capacity. The 
total capital employed in the business, as nearly as we can ascertain, is §230,000, 
and it furnishes constant employment to 103 hands. The annual sales amount 
to §600,000. The candles manufactured in Louisville are superior to those 
made elsewhere, so say the consumers with whom we have conversed. Our 
city is well prepared to turn them out by the tens of thousands per day. 
Formerly, Cincinnati supplied us and a vast extent of country southwest of us, 
but that day has gone by, and Louisville is even supplying man}' customers 
east of Cincinnati, and it was by them that we were assured of the superiority 
of the Louisville candles. 

BRUSH FACTORIES. 

There are three of these, employing §10,000 capital and 30 hands. The sales 
amount to §10,000 per annum. These shops turn out all kinds of brushes, 
such as horse, shoe, scrubbing, dusting, white washing, cloth, and paint brushes. 
They also make beautiful fancy brushes for the hair, etc. They prepare large 
quantities of hair and bristles for market. 

COMB FACTORIES. 

We have three comb factories, employing five hands. They furnish all sorts 
of combs, and sell about $4,000 worth of theii own work a year. 

FILE FACTORIES. 

There is one file factory, where all kinds of files are made. The firm is pre- 



72 MANUFACTORIES. 

pared to furnish files equal to the best English article, and will sell them as 
cheap as they can be furnished any where in America. They warrant their files 
equal to any made in Europe or the world, and solicit patronage. 

We sincerely hope they will be sustained, for our carpenters assure us 
that their files are better than any they can buy elsewhere. 

TOBACCO FACTORIES. 

There are eight of these in the city, and they employ $150,000 capital, and 
529 hands; and they do business to the amount of S665,U00 a year. 

This business has largely increased, and there seems to be a better prospect 
now than ever before. Louisville is attracting more attention every year as a 
tobacco market, and therefore the business of manufacturing other things be- 
ing equal, must increase also. 

Besides the above there are 74 segar factories, employing 521 hands^ and do- 
ing business to the amount of §682,500. 

COTTON FACTORIES. 

There are two cotton fictories where some yarns are spun, but they are chiefly 
engaged in making batting. It is contemplated to enlarge one of these factories 
this season, and enter into the business of spinning cotton extensively. For- 
merly cotton spinning was carried on here to a considerable extent, but several 
disastrous fires exhaiisted the means of those in the business, and not until now 
has the subject attracted much attention since. The prospects are that a few 
months more will witness the hum of many spindles. The two factories now 
in operation were commenced by men of limited means, and have been con- 
ducted with much economy and industry. They employ a capital of $12,000, 
23 hands, and do business to the amount of $30,000 a year. 

BELL FOUNDERY. 

The well established shop of Mr. Wm. Kay, makes superior church, steam- 
boat, tavern, and other bells. Capital invested $15,000; hands employed six; 
and yearly business done $22,000. The bells made here are very popular wher- 
ever known. 

ALCOHOL AND PURE SPIRIT FACTORY. 

There is a manufactory of alcohol and pure spirits. Capital employed $40,- 
000, and ten hands. Business done in a year $150,000 

CHAIR FACTORIES. 

There are three of these, where chairs alone arc made, besides several others 
connected with furniture and cabinet shops. They have about $20,000 invested, 
employ 87 hands, and do business to the amount of $47,800 a year. Every 
variety of chair may be obtained in these shops, and as cheap as any where else. 
One of these firms keeps a large mill in the country, a few miles from the city, 
in constant operation, preparing the material to put together here. Thus all 
their sawing, turning, etc., etc., is done in the country, where timber is abun- 
dant and cheap, and the work is all put together in the city. 

MILL AND MILL-STONE FACTORY. 

There is one establishment where portable and plantation mills, mill-stones, 
bolting cloths, etc., are manufactured. This shop has been long established, 
and is favorably known. They employ $20,000 capital, 20 hands, and $25,000 
worth of business is done annually. 

POTTERIES. 

We have four potteries, where earthen or brown ware, and also stone ware, 
are manufactured in all their varieties. They employ $15,000 capital, and do 
business to the amount of $15,000 a year. 

WHIP FACTORY. 

There are two whip factories, employing four hands, and making whips of all 
kinds, and in considerable quantities. 



MANUFACTORIES. 73 

children's cab and carkiaoe factory. 
There is onfe shop engaged in making carriages and cabs for children. These 
articles are of very superior workmanship, and as handsome and tasty as any 
thing of the kind in the United States. Orders to any amount can be filled on 
short notice. 

CARRIAGE FACTORIES. 

There are sixteen carriage shops. Capital invested $168,000, hands employed 
132, amount of sales per annum §275,000. This is a very favorable point for 
this business, as these luxurious articles are very generally used here. The 
trade in carriages at this point has long been an important feature of our busi- 
ness. Carriages of very superior style and workmanship are turned out in great 
numbers from our work shops. Every department is conducted by skillful and 
practical mechanics, and articles of great strength and exquisite finish may al- 
ways be seen in the sales-rooms of these factories. 

FLOUR MILLS. 

There are eight flour mills in operation, having an aggregate capital of S240,- 
000, employing 60 hands, and doing business to the amount of §753,500 a year. 
They have 28 run of stones, and can manufacture 1175 barrels flour per day. 
This business is on the increase here, and our city bids fair to become one of 
the greatest flour markets in the land. It is worthy of remark that Messrs. 
Smith & Smyzer, despising the old fogy objections to the water power of the 
falls, have, at vast expense, excavated a race and built a very large mill, with 
five run of stones, on the Indiana side of the river. This mill uses only water 
power, and can manufacture flour at a cost of ten cents per barrel. 

CORN MILLS. 

There are two corn mills, with four run of stones. They grind meal and feed 
to a large amount. 

LARD OIL 

There are five lard oil factories; capital $100,000, 75 hands employed, and 
sell $146,000 worth of oil per annum. 

Most of these establishments manufacture soap and candles also, and one of 
them makes rosin oil, and a very superior lubricating oil. Recently, one of 
these firms has engaged in manufacturing coal oil, and is prepared to fill orders 
to a large amount. 

MUSTARD AND SPICE MILLS. 

The famous Kentucky mustard is manufactured in this city, and these mills 
are doing an immense business in that article, They also do a large business 
in spice and eoff"ee, which is prepared in the most approved manner. They 
manufacture the "Great Western Blacking" also, and have a large trade with 
the south-west in all these articles. There are two spice mills in the city. 

ROPE AND CORDAGE. 

We have two steam rope and cordage mills, employing 170 hands, consuming 
4,400 tons of hemp per annum, and selling rope and cordage to the amount of 
8550,000 a year. The machinery in these mills is as near perfection, we think, 
as can be reached in this important branch of business. The hemp is taken 
from the farmer's wagon, dressed, spun, laid, coiled or reeled, and delivered 
ready for market, all by machinery. And the work is done so fast, so well, and 
so uniformly smooth and even, that no hand spinning can compare with it. 
The days of hand spinning are over, and the only use of hands now is to super- 
intend these wonderful machines. 

To describe these machines is more than we can do, but we almost imagined 
them endowed with reason, as we gazed upon their ceaseless and unfaltering 
performance of every one of the numerous and various manipulations necessary 



74 MANUFACTORIES. 

to complete the transformation of raw hemp into cordage. A large quantity of 
the products of these mills is sold in the eastern markets. 

"WOOD WORKS. 

By this term we mean a manufactory of wagon and carriage materials, such 
as hubs, spokes, felloes, shafts, single and double trees, wagon bows, etc., etc. 
There is one mill with $20,000 capital, employs 15 hands, and sells §20,000 
worth of work a year. This mill can fill orders to any amount, and will war- 
rant all work sold, both as to material and workmanship, and will sell as 
cheap as any shop in the United States. 

SARSAPARILLA AND PATENT MEDICINE. 

We have eight or ten, some of them large and important, manufactories of 
the above kind. They make and vend immense quantities of their goods, and 
thus furnish employment to a considerable number of hands. This branch of 
business, centering here, and extending its sales nearly all over the United 
States, amounts to many thousands of dollars per annum. 

PUMP AND BLOCK FACTORIES. 

There are six of these, some of them making pumps alone, without enume- 
rating those who make metalic pumps. They employ 30 hands, and do work to 
the amount of §25,000 a year. Pine for pumps and spars is brought here from 
the upper rivers in great quantities, both white and yellow. 

BOOT-TREE AND LAST MAKING. 

There is one shop engaged in this business, from which articles in that line 
can be furnished to order and of good quality. 

CARPET WEAVING. 

There are two pretty extensive carpet weaving establishments, and besides 
these quite a number of private weavers, who carry on the business in their 
dwellings. They manufacture a great deal of rag carpet, some of it of very 
handsome patterns, and also much carpeting of more substantial and elegant 
material, as well as more chaste and beautiful patterns. All the dying and 
coloring necessary in the business is done by the same parties. 

CORN-BROOMS AND WISPS. 

A shop for the manufacture of these useful articles has been in successful 
operation here for some time, and is doing business to the amount of §6,000 a 
year. Every variety of corn brooms and wisps for clotheii are made in the 
neatest and most durable manner. 

GOLD AND SILVER MANUFACTORIES. 

There are three manufactories of gold and silver ware in the city, one of them 
is devoted exclusively to the manufacture of gold ware, and the others prin- 
cipally to that of silver ware. About §20,000 is invested in the business, and 
20 hands are employed. Rings, ear-rings, breast-pins, bracelets, etc., of gold, 
and of the finest qualities, are made. Also of silver ware, pitchers, goblets, 
tumblers, spoons, etc., in great variety. 

We will here state a fact for the information of all concerned: Both gold and 
silver ware made here, and offered to our merchants and refused, was afterward 
sold to New York dealers, by them sold to our merchants at an advance of 
40 per cent., and brought back to Louisville to sell to their customers as 
New York ware. 

Our gold and silver manufactories are prepai-ed to execute orders for fares, 
families, and dealers as well, and on as good terms, as any other parties. 
The above does not include the numerous watch and jewel dealers and re- 
pairers of the city. 

PLANE MANUFACTORY. 

Wc have one factory of this kind, which employs five hands. They turn 
out work of the first quality, and deserve public patronage. 



76 MANUFACTORIES. 

ENGRAVERS ON METALS AND WOOD. 

There are four establishmente for engraving, and their work will compare 
favorably with similar jobs from other shops. The demand for wood-engraving 
for book and job work, as also for metalic engraving, is far beyond the capacity 
of these establishments, and it is constantly increasing. Much of this kind of 
work has to be sent East at heavy expense and loss of time. The city greatly 
needs a first class engraving hou.se, and would sustain it well. 

VENETIAN BLIND MANUFACTORY. 

We have one shop devoted exclusively to this business, where work of the 
best quality is executed in the best manner. Blinds of every pattern, and with 
all kinds of hangings, together with elegant show cases, are made to order. 

CONFECTIONERIES. 

A number of these sweet-meat and candy establishments are here, and articles 
in this line as elegant, as sweet, and in as great variety, can be found here as 
any where. These articles are made in large quantities and sold all over the 
country. 

STOCK OR COW-BELL FACTORIES. 

We have four of these establishments. They turn out S75,000 worth of bell? 
per annum. They ship large quantities of bells to Central America and South 
America. 

WIRE CLOTH WEAVING. 

This business is carried on to the extent of one hundred dozen sieves per 
week, besides several other articles made at the same establishment. The 
amount of these articles made in a year is ^35,000. 

WIG AND ORNAMENTAL HAIR. 

Two houses are extensively engaged in this business, and wigs for the old, 
and curls and braids for the young, of all colors and descriptions, are made to 
order. They employ twelve hands. 

BELLOWS FACTORIES. 

There are two of these. They manufacture all kinds of bellows, and sell 
about 050,000 worth per year. It is gratifying to see how fast, and how sub- 
stantial and neat, the steam bellows factory can turn out these windy instru- 
ments. If you want to be "puflfed" or to "raise the wind," these gentlemen 
can help you to your heart's content. 

GAS AND STEAM FITTERS AND PLUMBERS. 

Six shops carry on this business extensively. All kinds of plumbing, gas- 
fitting, and other work in this line, is elegantly and substantially done. Some 
jobs which wc have seen were superb. 

WOOLEN MILLS. 

We have two mills, one employing 15 hands, the other 35. They manufac- 
ture $130,000 worth of goods per annum. They spin and weave chiefly the 
coarser article of jeans. These establishments are very important to our city, 
and we hope to see them increase in capacity and number. One of these mills 
is of recent origin, and exhibits many evidences of t;iste and practical knowledge. 
It is of brick, spacious, and well arranged, with power to drive a large number 
of spindles and looms. It is now turning out packages of Kentucky jeans very 
rapidly. 

WILLOW BASKET AND WILLOW WARE. 

Five shops are devoted to this business, and turn out vast numbers of cradles, 
baskets, carriage bodies for children, chairs, etc. Their baskets are of all sizes 
from the mammoth clothes basket, down to the ladies fancy basket for her toilet 
or work table. 

FANCY WOOD, IVORY, AND IRON TURNING. 

Turning in wood, ivory, etc., is done at four shops. There are many others 



MANUFACTORIES. 77 

of a larger and more common kind, but these do a fancy and ornamental kind 
of work. Fancy boxes, toilet articles, etc., etc., are fabricated with taste and 
neatness. They employ ten hands. 

WEBBING AND STOCKING WEAVING. 

There is one manufactory of this kind, where stockings, webbing, and gar- 
ments are woven by machinery. Boys' and men's coats are woven or knit by 
machinery, looking like stocking work. May our German stocking weaver 
abundantly prosper. 

LOCK SMITHS AND SAFE MAKERS. 

Two shops carry on lock making in all its branches, from the mammoth bank 
lock, down to dwelling house or furniture locks. Their large locks have the 
character of being burglar proof. They also, as well as other shops in the city, 
manufacture fire proof safes. 

There are, besides the above, many of the more ordinary locksmiths. 

BOILER YARDS. 

There are two yards devoted exclusively to this business, besides several others, 
connected with foundries and machine shops. These two have a capital of 
$20,000 invested, employ 35 hands, and do business to the amount of ^80,000 
a year. 

PLOW FACTORIES. 

There were two of the above factories, at the time we canvassed the city, a 
few weeks ago, but others have since commenced operation, and we can not now 
give the exact number. We speak here of shops that make only plows, there 
being many plows made in other shops. 

One of our plow manufactories is an establishment of large size, and admirable 
arrangement. Every branch of the business is carried on under the same roof, 
and is done in the most workmanlike manner. Capital invested in the business, 
$60,000; hands employed, 40; and sales per annum, $70,000. Besides these, 
there are many of less note, or connected with other branches. No doubt there 
are more than 8100,000 worth of plows sold from our shops annually. A very 
large proportion of this work goes to the South, and the South-west. More 
than 15,000 plows are made and sold annually by one shop. 

BAKERIES. 

There are a great many bakeries of the ordinary kind, and we would not 
speak of them particularly, but for the purpose of calling attention to two 
establishments, which we regard as rather extraordinary, in this line of business. 
One of these has a capital of §8,000 invested, employs 26 hands, and consumes 
150 barrels of flour per week. The other is not so large, but is a most excellent 
bakery, and does an immense business. They manufacture all kinds of bread, 
biscuits, cracknels, crackers, &c., in large quantities, and are always prepared to 
till orders on the best terms and to any amount. 

UPHOLSTERING BUSINESS. 

There arc seven upholster shops, having §30,000 invested, employing 55 
hands, and doing business to the amount of §75,000 a j-car. We believe we 
have seen work done by some of these shops, that was equal to any ever done 
in the United States. 

WHITE LEAD AND LINSEED OIL. 

These articles are extensively manufactured by one firm. They employ 50 
hands, and manufacture 62,000 kegs of lead, 2,500 barrels (if linseed oil, and 
500 tons of oil cake per annum — total value §209,000. This establishment 
is one of the best we have ever seen, and richly deserves a liberal patronage 
not only because it is so much needed here, but because of the excellency of 
the articles they manufacture. 



'78 MANUFACTORIES. 

HYDRAULIC CEMENT. 

There is a vast amount of this valuable article manufactured here. The 
business employs 75 hands, and the sales amount to about $100,000 a year. 
The character of this cement is now so well established, that it is prefered to all 
others, wherever it can be obtained. Dr. Owen, the State geologist, shows that 
the rock holds the ingredients, in the exact proportions to make a first rate 
water cement; and at a recent overflow of the tide at New York, where many 
cellars were flooded, those cemented with the Louisville water-lime, alone 
withstood the flood; all others leaked, and subjected their contents to loss and 
damage by water. The bed of the river is formed in a great measure, of thip 
water-lime, and the supply is therefore inexhaustible. 

COPPER, TIN, AND SHEET IRON WORK. 

We include under this head, those shops that manufacture stills, large boilers, 
pipes, heaters, chimneys, breeching, &c., &c., but none of the ordinary tin shops. 
There arc five shops as thus defined; they employ SGO,000 capital, and 30 hand?, 
and do business to the amount of $75,000 a year. 

BEDSTEAD MANUFACTORY. 

There is a factory, commenced a few years ago on a small capital, which, by 
energy, industry and economy, has grown to importance. It now gives constant 
employment to 20 hands, and makes $30,000 worth of bedsteads a year. Though 
twice enlarged since it commenced, it can not now fill orders as fast as thej 
come in. All kinds of bedsteads are manufactured, and of the best material. 
It is contemplated to erect still larger buildings, and a new engine, which will 
be adequate to the increased business. 

FURNITURE MANUFACTORIES. 

There are more than twenty houses where more or less furniture is manufac- 
tured, and as many more, where foreign manufactured furniture, only, is sold. 
About 255 hands are employed in the different shops, and about$350,000 worth 
of work is done per annum. Two establishments have recently gone into 
operation, which give promise of much benefit to this department of our 
manufactures. Our furniture dealers have done themselves and the city harm, 
by not directing their attention more to manufacturing. They have been in the 
habit of importing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of furniture every 
year, when they ought to have manufactured it, and thus retained the money 
here, and built up immense manufactories, such as they have helped to build in 
other places. 

We have all, or even more fiicilities here for manufacturing furniture, thaw 
other places. The raw material is abundant, more so than at any place W(' 
know of, and enterprise is all that is needed to bring it here in any quantity 
that may be needed. Very recently, one of the largest furniture dealers in 
our city assured us that he regretted the course that has been pur.<ucd, and told 
us that he believed this one of the best points to establish a I'urniture factory, 
in the country. lie said, nothing but his domestic aflSiiirs kept him from going 
into the business. It is a matter of rejoicing, that this error is seen, for it will 
doubtless, now find a remedy. Let those already manufacturing push on, and 
let others commence. A fortune awaits some enterprising man who will enter 
this inviting field. 

Since this was written, a large factory has been commenced. 

HORSE SHOE AND WROUGHT NAIL FACTORIES. 

There are four of these, employing 8 hands, and making nails to the amount 
of S8,000 a year. 

IRON RAILING, VAULTS, SAFES, AND DOORS. 

We have four of these shops, employing 43 hands, and doing $80,000 worth 
of work per annum. They manufacture plain and ornamental railing, fire- 



MANUFACTORIES. 79 

proof doors, vaults, safes, and jail and bank work. A fine new factory has lately 
opened. . 

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. 

The manufacturing of agricultural implements Ls a comparatively new busi- 
ness here, only a few years having elapsed since the first factory was opened. 
There are now two such establishments in operation, having S180,000 capital 
invested, and giving employment to 235 hands. They manufacture ?'u!53,000 
worth of work a year. This is an immense business, and has all grown up within 
three years. 

One of the proprietors of one of these establishments was the pioneer in th*^ 
seed and agricultural business in our city. In 1S57 he sold out, and directed 
all his attention to manufacturing. The list of articles manufactured in the.sc 
immense establishments comprises threshers and cleaners, mowers, reapers, 
straw cutters, fodder cutters, corn shellers, cider mills, road scrapers, horse 
powers for 2, 4, or 8 horses to work with band wheel or tumbling shaft, cotton 
planters, hay pres.ses, portable saw mills, and portable locomotive engines for 
farm and plantation use. 

GUN SMITHS. 

There are eight gun smiths, and the business gives employment to fifteen 
hands. 

LOOKING-GLASS AND PICTURE FRAMES. 

Four houses are engaged in this business. They are well prepared with 
every variety of material and maehinery to manufacture the most elegant look- 
ing-glasses, picture frames, etc. Capital invested §77,000, hands employed 43, 
and goods manufactiired to the amount of §109,000 per annum. 

SILVER AND BRASS PLATING. 

This business is carried on chiefly by those engaged in other branches, of 
which this forms a part, such as carriage makers and trimmers. There is, how- 
ever, one shop where it is carried on exclusively, and gives employment to three 
hands. About §3,000 worth of work is done in a year in this shop. 

SADDLE, HARNESS, AND TRUNK MAKING. 

There are twenty-one of these manufactories. They give employment to 158 
hands, and manufacture and sell to the amount of §350,000 a year. This 
branch of business is well represented in our city, and the best of Avork is done 
here. 

FOUNDRIES AND MACHINE SHOPS. 

There are seven of these establishments. They employ an aggregate capital 
of §400,000 in the business, and give constant employment to 540 hands. Their 
aggregate business amounts to §560,000 a year. AH kinds of heavy castings 
are made, but their business is chifly the building of steam engines, mill, and 
other machinery. One of tliem has just made the immense iron bridges for the 
Louisville and Nashville Railroad to cross Green and Barren rivers. Another 
is now casting the immense and powerful machinery for the city water works, 
the walking beams of which weigh twenty tons each, and the steam cylinders 
ten tons each. 

BRASS FOUNDRIES. 

There are two of these; capital §12,000. hands employed 10. and they do 
$20,000 worth of work per annum. 

ARCHITECTURAL FOUNDRIES. 

There are two foundries devoted to casting fronts for hou.ses, columns, lintels, 
sills, brackets, counters, pavements, and many other things used in building. 
Some of their work put up in this city is .so elegant, so chaste, and so substan- 
tial, that every beholder admires it. Capital in the business §55,000, hands 
employed 90, and §100,000 worth of work sold in a year. 



80 MANUFACTORIES. 

STOVE AND HOLLOW-WARE FOUNDRIES. 
Three foundries carry on this business in all its branches, and one of them is 
now building a new house or houses for the accommodation of its increasing 
business. These are very large establishments and equal in every respect to 
any of their kind in the West. Their beautiful wares, of every style and variety 
known to this branch of business, are equal to those of any other place in the 
country. One firm manufactures every style of marbleized mantels, a most 
beautiful article. Capital in the business $280,000, hands employed 275, busi- 
ness done 3528,922 per annum. 

ROLLING MILL. 

This is the largest and most prominent manufacturing establisment in our 
city. It is under the control and managment of Mr. T. C. Coleman, the Presi- 
dent of the Company, an active and enterprising business man, and the largest 
stockholder. 

This mill is ftimous for making the best iron in the United States, and which 
has a preference over all other iron where it has been introduced. The iron 
has been frequently tested, and it is found that the stone coal iron made in this 
establishment will sustain or resist a pressure of from 60 to 64,000 pounds to 
the square inch, and the charcoal iron will sustain or resist a pressure of from 
75 to 80,000 pounds to the square inch. This is a strength not attained by any 
other iron made in this country, some of which has not a greater strength than 
38.000 pounds to the square inch. Swedish iron is estimated to tear asunder 
under a pressure of 72,064 pounds, but any iron that will resist or sustain 55,- 
000 pounds to the square inch, is considered very good, no matter where made. 
The Louisville iron is very much sought for by bridge builders, in consequence 
of its great tenacity and strength, and has been extensively used for bolts for 
the railroad bridges in Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio, as well as in this State. 
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company are now building iron bridges 
over Green and Barren rivers, all the wrought iron for which was made at the 
Louisville Ptolling Mill. It was all tested by Mr. Albert Fink, the well known 
engineer and bridge builder, who has the contract for these bridges, and under 
whose superintendence the iron bridges of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 
were all built; — who certifies that this iron procured from the Louisville Roll- 
ing Mill Company exhibited in every way during the tests its great tenacity and 
strength, and that '-it is the best iron he has ever seen or tested." 

The Louisville Rolling Mill Company have a cash capital of §.300,000; em- 
ploy about 135 men ; make about 3,000 tons of finished iron a year ; and sell it 
all at home, not having any agents. They use no metal made from Stone coal 
or coke; none but the first quality of charcoal blooms and pig is ever used in 
their mill. 

HYDRAULIC FOUNDRIES AND MACHINE SHOPS. 

One largo establishment is devot«d to this business, and turns out every 
variety of hydraulic machinery, besides portable and stationary steam engines, 
fences, and many other articles. Capitjil $75,000. hand< employed 130, business 
done in a year 8100,000. 

MACHINF, AND FINISHING SIIol'.^. 

There are three of these, where steam engines are built, and mill and much 
other machinery is made. Capital §20,000, handr< employed 20, annual business 
§40,000. These are finishing shops only, and do not do any casting. One of 
these shops is being enlarged to double its former size and capacity. 

WHEEL-BARROW FACTORY. 

This business was commenced last year on a small scale, and such has been 
its success that the firm are now erecting a new and larger factory. They manu- 
facture railroad and levee wheel-barrows, and for all purposes where earth has 



MANUFACTORIES. 81 

to be removed. They are now making about 50 a week, but will soon turn them 
out much faster. They are made of oak and iron, and put together very strong. 
Orders for these articles can now be filled as well here, and on as good terms, as 
any where. 

riANO FORTE MANUFACTORY. 

This business is carried on extensively by one firm, and more or less is done 
by smaller establishments. The largest firm has 8G0,000 invested in the busi- 
ness, employs 62 hands, and manufactures instruments to the value of §110,000 
per annum. They turn out an average of eight pianos a week, and their in- 
struments are pronounced equal to any in the market. They expect soon to 
make an average of ten a week. 

MUSIC PUBLISHING. 

Three houses are engaged in publishing music, and do an immense business 
in this line. 

ROPE AND BAGGING FACTORY. 

There is an extensive steam factory for making rope and bagging, where the 
most improved machinery is doing the work as fast and as well, perhaps, as any 
where in the West. 

TERRA COTTA WORKS. 

This business is carried on in all its branches by one establishment. It is. 
however, a very extensive one, and although constantly receiving orders, even 
from down South, manages to keep up with the demand. It is now ascertained 
that a very superior clay for chimney tops, vases, window caps, brackets, and 
even garden statuary, exists in the immediate vicinity of this city. Hence this 
beautiful work is becoming very common. Tiling for roofs is now made here, 
and has been adopted by some of our most intelligent citizens. The orna- 
mental copings, cornices, brackets, caps, etc., of the cathedral were made at this 
establishment, and will doubtless stand as well as the stone used in the vast 
edifice. 

COMPOSITION ROOFING. 

This is carried on extensively, and gives employment to a large number of 
hands. 

COTTON HOOK MANUFACTORY. 

Cotton and hay hooks are made at one shop. Orders will be fiilled as well 
and as cheap as by any other. All work warranted. 

PAPER MAKING. 

There is one paper mill, where the latest and most approved machinery is 
turning out paper of excellent quality at the rate of 4,000 pounds a day. Capi- 
tal invested ^70,000, hands employed 90. The mill consumes 6,000 pounds of 
rags per day, and makes 100,000 pounds of paper per month. Such is the de- 
mand for paper that this mill runs day and night the year round, except Sun- 
days. The establishment is now being enlarged by the erection of a building 
1-10 feet long by 30 feet wide, and three stories high. 

LITHOGRAPHIC ENGRAVING. 

There are two establishments where this kind of work is done, and they em- 
ploy 19 handd. All kinds of lithographing can be done here that is done in 
the eastern cities, and done as well and as cheap. 

GILDING AND PLATING. 

This business is carried on by several shops in all its varieties, and gives em- * 
ployment to a number of workmen, though in every instance except two, the 
business is connected with other branches. 

SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND TRUSSES. 

These are manufactured in great variety and perfection at two establishmenta 
6 




8T. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHUBCH, SIXTH STREET, NEAR WALNUT. 



MANUFACTORIES. 83 

OPTICAL AND SPECTACLE MAKING. 

This business is carried on by one establishment, and seems to be worthy of 
public confidence and patronage. We hope to see this establishment encouraged. 

GOLD PEN MANUFACTORY. 

This is carried on by one shop, and gives employment to five hands. Theip 
pens are very good — equal, as far as we can judge, to any in the market, and as 
cheap as can be bought any where. 

MARBLE WORKS AND STONE-YARDS. 

This business is extensively carried on at 15 yards, many of them working 
marble. Capital invested about §80,000, and hands employed 150. In one of 
these establishments steam is used to saw stone, and large works have been 
erected for the purpose. All kinds of marble and stone work can be had here 
of the best quality and as cheap as any where else. 

BAND AND FANCY BOXES. 

These are made by several persons, and by some of them very extensively. 

SCALE MANUFACTORY. 

This is carried on by one firm exclusively, and gives employment to eight 
hands. They make hay, depot, coal, and cattle scales of all sizes and of the 
best quality. 

OIL CLOTH AND WINDOW SHADES. 

This business is carried on by three large shops, and their work is equal to 
any we have seen, both as regards variety and durability. Very beautiful pat- 
terns or designs are executed, and we have never seen better or finer. 

BONE MILL FOR MANURE. 

This new branch of business is carried on by one steam mill. It is capable 
of grinding 50 bushels of bone manure per day. The ground bones are regarded 
as excellent manure, and are used by osir gardeners. Two barrels, of 180 pounds 
each, are sown to fho acre of land, and this suflBces for five or six years. 

ORGAN, MELODEON, AND ACCORDEON MANUFUCTORY. 

There are four establishments where these instruments are manufactured. 
They make church organs, parlor organs, and organs for public halls equal to 
any in the United States, and will warrant them as such. Also the smaller in- 
struments equal to any. 

ORNAMENTAL CARVERS AND SCULPTORS. 

Two shops carry on this business in all its varieties, and execute very superior 
work. 

FRET AND SCROLL SAWING. 

Two mills execute work of this kind — chair backs, scroll, fret, furniture cor- 
nice, brackets, etc., as delicate and beautiful as ever was done any where. Cab- 
inet and piano makers can be furnished with these articles as neat and perfect 
36 any where in the world. 

VARNISH MANUFACTORY. 

There is one establishment where all kinds of varnish is made. They war- 
rant their goods as good and as cheap as any. 

SADDLE-TREE MAKING. 

One shop carries on this business, nnd turns out thousands of dollars worth 
of saddle trees equal to any in quality and price. 

LOUISVILLE CnF.MICAL WORKS. 

This vory complete lalioratory, erected by Prof. J. L. Smith, of the Medical 
Department of the Louisville University, is now in complete and successful 
operation. The buildings and machinery are well adapted to the purposes for 
which they were erected, and are capable of great extension, the lot being 150 
by 250 feet. The list of chemicals and other products is a very extended 
one^ and is daily receiving additions of preparations of value as they appear. 



g4 FACILITIES FOR MANUFACTURING. 

We have seen testimonials from the first medical professors of the western 
country, testifying to the strength, purity, and superiority of the preparations 
of this establishment over all others in the market. These testimonials are 
strong and numerous. The chloroform, Hofi"man's anodyne, blue pill, and 
sweet spirits of nitre manufactured here, are especially commended for their 
strength and purity. The mills for powdering the more important drugs are of 
the most approved construction, and these articles can be furnished of warranted 
parity, and in any quantities that may be desired. 

PRINTING OFFICES. 

There are ten printing offices, doing a large amount of business, and giving 
employment to about 175 hands. 

BOOK BINDERIES. 

There are six of these, where book-binding and manufacturing of blank books 
is carried on extensively. 

GLUE FACTORIES. 

There are two glue factories, where the business is carried on extensively. 

LUCIFER OR FRICTION MATCHES. 

One establishment manufactures large quantities of these, and they are pro- 
nounced by those who have used them to be of excellent quality. 



FACILITIES FOR MANUFACTURIJS^a 

BAW MATERIAL. 
Iron. — The article of first and chief importance in manufacturing communi- 
ties, is abundant and of superior quality in this market. Our manufacturers 
have the advantage of being convenient to all the best furnaces in this country 
where the best charcoal pig metal is made. They can get with facility the metal 
made at the following furnaces, which is equal, if not superior, to any other 
made in this country, viz.: 

Iron Mountain Company, Missouri. 

Eed Eiver Furnace, Kentucky. 

Belmont " " 

Nelson " " 

Hanging Rock Furnaces, Ohio, 
And from all the furnaces of Greenup county, Ky., and those along the Cum- 
berland and Tennessee rivers. Belmont and Nelson Furnaces are on the line 
of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, only a few miles south of the city, and 
all the others are on our great rivers. It is a fact worthy of remark that a large 
propoi-tion of the iron used by the manufacturers at Cincinnati, "Wheeling, and 
Pittsburg, is taken by steamboats from furnaces below Louisville, and conse- 
quently costs more than the same article does at Louisville. This is especially 
true of the better qualities of iron. Our situation is peculiarly favorable for 
procuring this most important and valuable article, for besides being convenient 
to us, it is inexhaustible and of the best quality. So testifies the highest au- 
thority. It is a fact, that pig iron from some of the above named furnaces, and 
manufactured in this city, is superior to the best Swedish iron. It has been re- 
peatedly tried here in Louisville, and uniformly bears a greater strain than the 
best Swedish iron. Testimonials to this cfiect, and from the first engineers of 
this country, now lie before us. 

Timber and lumber of every description is as abundant and as cheap here as 
at any city in the West or in the Union. Our native forests furnish oak, 
hickory, ash, maple, walnut, cherry, poplar, cedar and many other kinds of 
timber, equal to any in the world. We get white pine lumber in common with 
all Ohio river towns from the Allegheny river. Yellow pine is abundant in our 



POWER FOR IklANUFACTURING. g5 

own State, and comes to us from our own rivers. The best of oak for steam- 
boat building is abundant, while walnut, cherry, and poplar for manufacturing 
furniture, is found in the forest all round the city. 

Wool is produced in all the country around Louisville, and can always be 
had on as good terms as at any other point. Immense manufactories of woolen 
goods can be sustained here. There are many woolen mills scattered through 
the interior of Kentucky, most of them small establishments, and manufactur- 
ing coarse linsey and Kentucky jeans, yet establishing the fact that this branch 
of business may be very profitably carried on here. Mills of the first class and 
making the finer qualities of woolen goods would, no doubt, do well. 

Cotton is abundant and as cheap as at any point in America. We are close 
to the cotton fields of the South, and ought to be extensively engaged in manu- 
facturing cotton goods. No place is or can-be better situated for cotton mills. 

Hemp. — Kentucky is a hemp growing State, and the article is as cheap and 
abundant here as any where else, this being one of the principal hemp markets 
of the country. Our facilities for manufacturing cordage, bagging, and rope 
can not be excelled. 

Tobacco. — We are in the midst of the greatest tobacco field of the Union, 
and the raw material to supply the manufactories of the world goes largely from 
Kentucky. If men will use the "weed," there is no better place to manufac- 
ture it for them than Louisville. 

Clay, of superior quality for pottery and terra cotta works, is found in the 
immediate suburbs of the city. Articles as durable and fine as any we ever 
saw, both of stone ware and terra cotta work, are daily turned out from our shops. 

In a word — metals, woods, fibrous materials, clay, and all other raw mate- 
rials for manufacturing, are as abundant and as cheap here as at any other place 
in the western country. 



POWER FOR MANUFACTURING. 

Louisville is equal in focilities of this sort to any other city depending on 
steam to drive machinery, except Pittsburg and Wheeling, which are situated at 
the coal mines. Coal can always be had here as cheap as at Cincinnati; and if 
the mere question of dear fuel does not prevent her from being a great manu- 
facturing city, as we know it docs not, there is certainly no reason why Louis- 
ville should be an exception. It is a fact of which we are personally cognizant 
that Cincinnati has sold more steam engines, sugar mills, and other plantation 
machinery to the planters of the South, than IPittsburg and Wheeling both. 
And if our up-river neighbors have cheaper fuel, we have many other advan- 
tages which more than compensate us for the lack of this. But Louisville is 
not, or ought not to be, under any necessity of relying on steam power for 
manufacturing. She has water power equal io four million horse jwicer running 
to waste over the Falls at the lowest stage of the Ohio river. She ought and 
may stand the first and most favored of manufacturing cities, so far at least as 
cheap power is concerned. It is to her shame that she has not turned this 
power to account. But we have said enough on this subject in the article on 
"Water Power." The more we contemplate the subject of manufacturing the 
more do we see that nature peculiarly and eminently fitted this to be a place 
of vast manufacturing importance. In fact, we are amazed that it is not to-day 
the chief manufacturing city of the Ohio Valley. Nature evidently intended it 
should be, and has amply provided for it. AVe are, nevertheless, of the opinion 
that Louisville will become all she ought to be, and that the present dawning or 
new energy and new policy, so manifest among all classes of our citizens, mark 
the beginning of a new era in her manufacturino: interests. 



g6 PORK PACKING AND PROVISION BUSINESS. 

FUEL FOR MANUFACTURIXa AND DOMESTIC USE. 

Coal has nearly taken the place of every other fuel, and will, doubtless, soon 
be universally adopted. We have coal in abundance in Kentucky, Indiana, 
Ohio, Virginia, and Pennsylvania — all accessible to Louisville. We have it on 
the Ohio, Kanawha, Big Sandy, Kentucky, Green, and Barren rivers, all navi- 
gable streams, and from most of which coal is brought to this market every sea- 
son. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad runs immediately along the eastern 
edge of the great western coal field of Kentucky, which is only 50 to 60 miles 
distant from the city. We have every variety of bituminous coal. And from 
the report of Dr. Owen, the able State geologist, one is surprised at the number 
and value of the coals of Kentucky. Here is the hard, compact, oil bearing 
canel, the pure ebony slabs of which take a polish as smooth as a mirror, and 
may be obtained ten feet long, by three to four feet wide. So combustible is 
this coal that it may be kindled with a candle or a match. Here are many kinds 
of coking coals, running from the famous Pittsburg through a dozen other va- 
rieties, more or less valuable, and which are so important in manufacturing 
iron. As to quantity, the ablest geologists of Europe and America assure us in 
published documents, that it is inexhaustible. This indispensable article is as 
easily and abundantly obtained here as at any other city not absolutely situated 
on the usually poor lands immediately covering the coal strata. 

The amount of coal annually consumed at this point is about 5,000,000 (five 
million) bushels, and the business is divided between twelve regular coal yards, 
giving employment to four hundred hands. The business has increased in the 
last ten years at the rate of ten per cent, per annum. Steam tugs are used to 
tow the heavy barges, and greatly facilitate the transportation of coal from the 
mines. The wholesale price of coal in this market is about 8^- cents per 
bushel. Pietail price 12^ cents per bushel. These prices are for the best qual- 
ities, others are lower. 



FORK PACKING AND PROVISION BUSINESS. 

This branch of business was commenced in Louisville about twenty-eight 
years ago, but the first distinct notice we have of it is in the City Directory, 
18-44. There were then four pork houses, which could slaughter and pack 
about 70,000 hogs annually. In 1851 the number slaughtered amounted to 
195,414. There are now eight packing and slaughtering houses in the city, 
employing 12G0 hands during the packing season, and they slaughtered and 
packed this season 300,000 hogs. The capital employed in this branch of busi- 
ness at present is ^2,125,000, and the annual sales reach the sum of 84,760,000. 
A most complete and well arranged establishment was built last season, and 
finished just in time to make a season's business the past winter. The magni- 
tude and rapid increase of this branch of busines, and the superior facilities of 
Louisville as a provision market, seem to require a more extended notice. We 
therefore lay the following description of one of our largest pork houses before 
the reader : 

BEARQRASS PORKHOUSE. 

"This is the most extensive packing establishment in the United States or in 
the world. No other concern has any thing near the same capacity for slaught- 
ering, cutting, curing, packing, and storing the packed provisions. The 
capacity of the establishment stated in the number of hogs which can be 
alaughtcrcd and packed in one season, may be fixed at 110,000, though the 
largest number that was ever slaughtered and packed was 105,000. The main 



88 WHOLESALE MERCANTILE HOUSES. 

building, wliicli includes the engine, slaughter, and cutting and packing rooms, 
is 335 by 110 feet in size, part three and part two stories high. The bulking 
and lard houses are 256 by 66^ feet, part two and part four stories high. The 
storage room is of 40,000 barrels capacity. The grounds in use for brine yard, 
pens, etc., etc., is twelve acres. The capital required to conduct the business 
varies with the season from §500,000 to 61,100,000. The season just closed, 
1858-9, required the use of the largest sum — one million one hundred thousand 
dollars. The cash cost of the grounds and buildings is §125, 000. The pro- 
perty has been a paying one every season since erected. The distinguishing 
difference between the pork packing establishments at Louisville and Cincinnati 
is this: at Cincinnati the hogs are slaughtered in separate establishments, then 
hauled a mile or more to the cutting and packing houses, while in Louisville 
the whole is conducted by one party and under one roof. The advantages of 
the Louisville system are many and too manifest to require elucidation. The 
smoke-house is divided into four distinct fire-proof apartments, and is of 70,000 
pieces capacity." Louisville is rapidly approaching the rank of the first provi- 
sion market in the valley of the Mississippi, and provisions cured here are uni- 
versally popular in the markets of the world. 

Besides these immense establishments, there are four other large packing and 
curing houses. They cure, hog round, 2000 casks; lard 16.000 kegs; hams 
and shoulders equal to 2,000 casks. Two thousand beeves are also slaughtered 
and packed; and the aggregate business of the four houses is $575,000 per an- 
num. Besides these, there are a great many smaller establishments doing a large 
amount of business. 

While on the provision business, we may appropriately notice the daily butch- 
ering by which our markets are supplied. There are 117 "boss" butchers. 
They employ §202, 040, and 218 hands in their business, exclusive of the wives, 
daughters, and sisters of the butchers, many of whom assist their husbands, 
fathers, and brothers in dispensing the daily rations of the city. They slaughtei 
23,078 beeves, 25,570 sheep, and 24,782 hogs in the year, besides a vast num- 
ber of calves, lambs, and pigs, of which we took no account. Their salep 
amount to the sum of $797,525, independent of the small animals. 



WHOLESALE MERCANTILE HOUSES. 

LEATHER, HIDES, AND FINDINGS. 

Seven houses are engaged in this department of business, and sell $1,500,000 
worth of goods per annum. 

SEEDS AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. 

There are five exclusively agricultural houses, whose annual business amounts 
to $400,000. This business has grown up within a few years, and is rapidly in- 
creasing. The city is becoming one of the most important agricultural centers 
in the western country. Situated in the center of the finest agricultural region 
of the world, she must always be the place where agricultural men, means, and 
interests "most do congregate." 

The above houses do not include one of the immense manufactories of agri- 
cultural implements mentioned under that head. When we consider how ra- 
pidly these two branches of business have increased here, we feel proud of the 
position our city is assuming in the manufactory of agricultural implements and 
as a seed market. 

HATS, CAPS, AND FURS. 

This business is divided between six houses, whose aggregate annual sales 
amount to $500,000. 



TOBACCO WAREHOUSES. 89 

GROCERIES. 

There are forty wholesale groceries, whoso aggregate annual sales amount to 
$12,000,000. They import about 25,000 hogsheads of sugar, 25,000 barrels 
of molasses and sirups, 40,000 bags of coffee, and 10,000 packages of refined 
sugar. 

DRY GOODS. 

There are thirty houses, whose aggregate annual sales amount to ?9,000,000. 
Besides the business in the heavier staple goods, a large proportion of fine and 
fancy goods are sold here. Perhaps our wholesale merchants keep heavier 
stocks of rich fancy goods than any others in the West. 

BOOTS AND SHOES. 

Seven houses are engaged in this business, whose aggregate annual sales 
amount to $1,500,000. If we add the wholesale business done by several of the 
large retail houses, we shall swell the sum to over two million dollars. 

CLOTHING. 

There are nine houses in this line of business, which sell $1,500,000 per an- 
num. 

LIQUOR BUSINESS. 

There are thirty houses in this business, which sell to the amount of $1,000,- 
000 a year. 

HARDWARE. 

Thirteen houses sell to the amount of $850,000 a year. Besides these, many 
of the retail houses sell large amounts at wholesale. 

DRUGS AND MEDICINES. 

There are ten houses, whose aggregate sales amount to $2,000,000 a year. 
Many of the retail stores also sell more or less at wholesale. 

CHINA AND QUEENSWARE. 

There are seven houses in this department, whose aggregate sales amount to 
$300,000 a year. 



TOBACCO WAREHOUSES. 

There are three very large ware houses for storing and selling tobacco. They 
have capacity to store 7000 hogsheads at one time. The aggregate sales of 
these houses for the year ending October 30, 1858, was 18,954 hogsheads, real- 
izing for the whole over $2,400,000. 

The fees charged to farmers or shippers are only $1 per hogshead. This in- 
cludes storage and inspection, and all charges the purchaser pays, the whole 
amounting to $1 25 per hogshead. 

These three houses employ eight clerks, three overseers, and thirty-three la- 
borers, With the single exception of New Orleans, this is the greatest tobacco 
market in the West, and the planters will find it the very best to realize the cash 
for their crops, and at the fullest prices without extra deductions for freights, 
insurance, and commission. There are daily sales at auction, and we have 
buyers from Cincinnati, Chicago, and all the lake cities, as well as buyers for 
foreign shipment. A large new stemmery has just been added to the long list 
of tobacco factories in the city. The business is annually increasing here, and 
the completion of the Louisville and Nashville Kailroad and its numerous 
branches extending through the tobacco-growing region, together with the many 
and great advantages of this market, must accelerate the increase. Louisville 
is destined to be one of the most important tobacco markets in the United 
States. 



92 TEANSPOETATIOX. 

TRANSPORTATION— RAILROADS. 

We have already seen that Louisville has natural transportation on thirty- 
three rivers to fifteen States and three hundred and forty-six counties — having 
a population of 5,000.000 souls. We can not over-estimate the importance 
of these natural highways of transportation. But as our rivers do not reach the 
interior counties in every case, and as they can not cross mountains and hills, 
and at certain seasons are unavailable except to a limited extent, we are glad to 
be able to say that art has supplied what nature had failed to furnish. Thus 
the railroad system of the South, thousands of miles in extent, and that of the 
North, still more extensive, are connected together at Louisville by means of 
our great Louisville and Nashville Railroad. This road serves to give us the 
advantages of many roads, by placing us in connection with all those north, 
south, east, and west of us. There is, perhaps, no other road in the country of 
the length of this that serves to connect so many roads, or that commands so fa- 
vorable a position between the northern and southern States of the L^nion. At 
this point it conncctB with two roads in Indiana, and through them with the 
whole system of roads north, east, and west. At Bowling Green it connect?^ 
with the Memphis road, and through it with the whole south-west. At Nash- 
ville it connects with roads south, south-east, and east. Thus literally com- 
manding the whole country in every direction. It will be seen by reference to 
the map that we havo almost an air line road to New Orleans, and the same re- 
mark is true of the road to Mobile. Savannah and Charleston are nearer to ns 
than to any other city in the Ohio valley, and, in fact, we are so situated in re- 
ference to them, that if we do not enjoy their entire trade in articles of Ohio 
valley produce, it will be simply and solely because we do not deserve to enjoy 
it. We shall soon be within eighteen hours of Memphis, and within forty of 
New Orleans, and, by our connection with the Mobile and Ohio road, within 
thirty-six hours of Mobile; we shall be within thirty-six hours of Savannah, 
within thirty-seven of Charleston, and about the same time from Richmond and Pe- 
tersburg by the southern route as we are from Philadelphia by our present eastern 
routes. The necessities of the country will, before long, cause the Louisville and 
Lebanon road to be extended to Cumberland Gap, to form a connection with 
the Lynchburg and Knoxville Railroad. Thus giving a very short and eligibW 
route to the interior of Airginia and to Norfolk, her best and most commodiou? 
harbor. 

From the foregoing facts it will be seen that, besides having ready and easy 
access to some half dozen southern seaports, we shall soon be in daily commu- 
nication with the whole interior of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Caro- 
lina, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Florida. A vast majority of 
this great and wealthy country will be new territory to Louisville enterprise ; 
not new or wild country to be settled hereafter, but old, wealthy, and populous 
country, just now, for tho first time, thrown open to our business men. Long 
have they desired this business and social union as well as ourselves. Now let 
us show what we can do to deserve their intercourse and trade. Let every 
manufacturer put forth his efforts to draw them to our city, and use every 
honorable means to secure their large and increasing trade. Let every produce 
dealer hold out inducements to them to crowd our business houses with orders. 
Let each of these classes help the other to fill southern orders, until all our cit- 
izens exhibit one united effort to develop the mighty resources of our city. 
Thus shall a mighty tide of new business, new customers, and new prosperity 
flow into Louisville and make her what she ought to be — one of the finest manu- 
facturing and commercial cities of the West. The prize is within our reach, let 
us grasp it. 



CITY RAILROADS — PERIODICALS — BANKS. 93 

GITY RAILROADS. 

It is not our object to suggest new improvements so mucli as to mention tliose 
already made ; yet as all persons have noticed the entire absence, until very re- 
cently, of all cheap modes of conveyance for passengers in the city, we deem it 
not improper to call attention to the subject. The neglect of this important 
matter for so long a time is the more surprising, as Louisville, owing to the 
vastness of the area covered in proportion to the number of her inhabitants, 
needs such facilities even more than other cities. With half the inhabitants, 
she covers more territory than some of the older cities of the country. While 
all arc proud of our wide streets, large lots, and immense squares, which cover 
such a vast area, they can not but feel how indispensable to our comfort and 
convenience they make some cheap public conveyance. Lately the Louisville 
and Portland Railroad Company has extended a line of omnibuses on Main 
street as far up as Wcnzel, thus stopping one mile short of the upper end of 
the city. This is all, and the only regular line of conveyance for passengers in 
the entire city, which is about six miles long by two and a half miles wide. 

Shall we serve the usual apprenticeship of years in the use of the old, lumber- 
ing, dusty, crowded, and uncomfortable omnibus? or shall we at once profit by 
the experience of sister cities all over the country, and adopt the elegant, roomy, 
smooth-gliding rail-car? All are aware that the rail-car is taking the place of 
the "bus" in all other cities, and why should we begin wrong when it is ju.<Jt as 
easy to begin right? Sooner or later it must come to this, and if allowed to do 
so, there are parties now anxious to undertake the construction of street rail- 
roads, and furnish us at once with fine horse-cars, in which, for a mere nominal 
price, we, our wives and families, may glide through our long, wide streets as 
pleasantly as we can sit in our houses. Will it not enhance the value of property 
all over the city, and especially that remote from the business part of the city? 

PERIODICALS. 

Daily Papers. — Louisville Journal, Louisville Democrat, Louisville Courier, 
Louisville Anzieger, Daily Evening Bulletin. 

Weekly Papers. — Louisville Journal, Louisville Democrat, Louisville 
Courier, Presbyterian Herald, Western Eecorder, Christian Union, Kentucky 
Family Journal, The Guardian, Turf Register, Commercial Advertiser. 

SEMi-i\IoNTHLY. — The Voice of Masonry, White's Reporter, Medical News. 

Monthly. — Christian Repository, White's Counterfeit Detecter. 

BANKS. 

Louisville has seven chartered banks, and we believe no similar institutions 
in the country stand higher in public estimation than they do. They are well 
guarded by judicious legislative enactment, and have been safely and well con- 
ducted for many years, until they have established a character of which our peo- 
ple may well be proud. These seven banks have an airtrregatc capital of ^5,- 
310,000. Total banking capital in Kentucky §13,030,000. 

St. Louis has six banks with an aggregate capital of §3,900,000. Total bank- 
ing capital in Missouri §7,050,600. 

Cincinnati has two banks, with an aggregate capital of §150,000. Total bank- 
ing capital in Ohio §5,413,746. 

Pittsburg has seven banks, with an aggregate capital of §4,200,700. Total 
banking capital in Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia, §13,808,668. 

Besides the seven chartered banks above, Louisville has five private banks, 
with largely over a million dollars capital. The business must be large where 
all this banking capital finds profitable employment. 

The above statements are from official tables for 1858. 



94 INDEBTEDNESS OF LOUISVILLE. 

INDEBTEDNESS OF THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE UP 
TO MARCH 10, 1859. 

27 Bonds to Lytle's heirs for their interest in wharf, due 1869,... §27,000 00 
These bonds are to be paid by the Sinking Fund, which has 
the money now on hand, but the holders have refused for the 
past five years, to permit them to be redeemed, preferring to re- 
ceive the interest. 

100 Bonds to Louisville Gas Co., due in 1867, for stock subscrip- 
tion, $100,000 00 

These bonds have never been put in market, and will be en- 
tirely retired in 1863 by dividends on city's stock in Gas Co., 
and on dividends on stock dividends, the city having acquired 
additional stock of 0100,000 to this date, surplus dividend on 
her original stock of a like sum, after paying the interest on 
her bonds. 

75 Bonds to Trustees of Public Schools for erection of School 

Houses, due 1883, 875,000 00 

These are to be paid by levying an annual tax upon the citizens 
for that purpose. 

200 Bonds to Jeflfersonville Railroad, due 1882, 8200,000 00 

This is a loan of the credit of the city of Louisville to the Jef- 
forsonville Railroad, the road having covenanted to pay the in- 
terest as it falls due, and the principal at maturity. By a reso- 
lution recently passed, the city has agreed to pay this interest 
for five years, by a tax of six (6) cents on the $100 valuation. 

500 Bonds to Louisville and Nashville Railroad, due in 1883,.... $500,000 00 
The principal of these bonds is to be paid at maturity by stock 
dividends, and if insufiicient then by the Sinking Fund, and 
the interest is now paid by that Fund, but heretofore by a spe- 
cial tax upon the city. 

175 Bonds to James Thompson, survivor, for purchase of wharf, 

due in 1884, $175,000 00 

The principal and interest of the bonds are to be paid at matu- 
rity by the receipts of the wharves in the city of Louisville, and 
a lien on the property purchased. 

100 Bonds to Trustees of Public Schools for erection of school 
houses, due in 1884. Eighty-two of these bonds have been re- 
tired by Sinking Fund, and which is liable for the principal 
and interest of the residue, $18,000 00 

1,000 Bonds to Louisville and Nashville Railroad, 750 due in 

1886, and 250 due in 1887 $1,000,000 00 

This is nominally a subscription of stock, and is substantially 
also a loan of the credit of the city of Louisville to the Louis- 
ville and Nashville Railroad. The road has covenanted with 
the city, on and after the 1st of October, 1859, to pay all inte- 
rest as it accrues and the principal at maturity. Until the 1st 
of October, 1859, the city pays the interest by a special taxa- 
tion upon the real and personal property. This road is being 
rapidly pushed forward to completion ; and being the only di- 
rect connecting railroad link between the North and South, it 
is believed, when completed, will be one of the best paying 
roads in the Union. 

225 Bonds to Lebanon Branch of Louisville and Nashville Rail- 
road, due in 1886, $225,000 00 



INDEBTEDNESS OF LOUISVILLE. 95 

This is also a loan of the credit of the city of Louisville to the 
Lebanon Branch Eoad, said road covenanting to pay the inte- 
rest and principal as they respectively fall due, the performance 
of the covenant being secured by a first mortgage on the road, 
and all its franchises, effects, etc. This Branch Head, 37^ 
miles in length, is completely finished, equipcd, and in full 
operation, (making money) and there can be no question of its 
ability to perform its covenant. 

300 Bonds to Louisville and Frankfort Railroad, due at different 

dates, the last in 1881, $300,000 00 

By a contract dated Nov. 20, 1854, between the city and the 
Louisville and Frankfort Railroad, the latter covenanted to re- 
tire the principal and interest of these bonds as they respec- 
tively fell due, which covenant was secured by a first mortgage 
upon the road and its appurtenances. The company have re- 
tired §100,000. and have a large sinking fund applicable to the 
payment of this indebtedness. Passing through the richest 
portions of Kentucky, and connecting with the Cincinnati, Co- 
vington, and Lexington Road, at Lexington, thus making a di- 
rect communication with the Eastern Railroads, it is one of 
the best paying roads in the West, and there can bo no doubt 
of its ability to pay the principal and interest of these bonds as 
they mature. 

672 Bonds to the Louisville Water Company for subscription to 

stock, due in 1887, §672,000 00 

The interest upon these bonds is secured by an irrepealable tax 
levied annually, upon the real and personal estate in the city 
of Louisville, and the principal secured by a mortgage by the 
city of Louisville to the commissioners of the Sinking Fund of 
said city, of her entire stock and the dividends thereon in said 
Water Company. 

3,292 Bonds, aggregating the sum of. §3,292,000 00 

llECAPITULATION. 

Contingent Indebtedness of the city of Louisville. 

Bonds to the Gas Co., §100,000 00 

" Jeffersonville Railroad, §200,000 00 

" Louisville and Nashville Railroad, due in 1886 

and 1887, §1.000,000 00 

" Lebanon Branch of the Nashville Road, §225,000 00 

" Louisville and Frankfort Railroad, §300,000 00 

§1,825,000 00 
Positive Indebtedness of the city of Louisville. 

Bonds to Lytle's heirs, §27,000 00 

" Trustees of Public Schools 75,000 00 

" Louisville and Nashville Railroad, due in 1883, 500,000 00 

" James Thompson, 175,000 00 

" Trustees of Public Schools, 18,000 00 

" Louisville Water Co., 672,000 00 

$1,467,000 00 
Total, §3,292,000 00 



96 INDEBTEDNESS OF LOUISVILLE. 

Assets of the city of Louisville. 

Keal Estate, 1^1,055,703 56 

Stock in Gas Co;, 200,000 00 

" Jeffersonville Railroad Co., 200,000 00 

'• Louisville and Nashville Railroad, 1,500.000 00 

" Lebanon Branch Road, 225,000 00 

" Water Company, 550,000 00 

Mortgage on Louisville and Frankfort R. R., 300,000 00 



^4,030,703 56 
Sinking Fund of the city of Louisville. 

This Fund was created by the new charter of the city of Louisville, which 
took effect 24th March, 1S51. It was created for the purpose of discharging 
the then existing indebtedness of the city, which amounted to upwards of §300,- 
000, to which was added the indebtedness of the town of Portland, on 6th Sep- 
tember, 1S52, amounting to upwards of §70,000, all of which old indebtedness 
has been paid off by said Fund, except the $27,000 due to Lytle's heirs. There 
are ample means in the Fund to pay that, but the holders of the bonds have re- 
fused for the past five years to permit them to be redeemed, preferring to receive 
the interest. 

The resources of the Sinking Fund are derived from licenses and the proceeds 
of market houses and wharves, and yield a net income to the city of about 
$115,000 per annum, and increasing largely and steadily, which will be devoted 
to the payment of the indebtedness of the city, and will, of itself, afford ample 
means to pay all the bonds the city has issued before they respectively fall due. 

This Fund has, as before stated, paid a large indebtedness, as follows : 

65 Bonds held by Bank of Kentucky, ^65,000 00 

40 " to Lexington and Ohio Railroad, 200,000 00 

5 " to Lytle's heirs, 5,000 00 

1 " to Mrs. Catharine Aringer, 5,000 00 

82 " to Trustees of Public Schools, 82,000 00 

Bonds and debts of town of Portland, 36,726 00 

Total bonded debt retired, §393,726 GO 

And has invested in 6 per cent, bonds as follows, viz.: 

40 Louisville and Nashville Bonds, §40,000 00 

25 " AVatcr Bonds, 25,000 00 

Total investment, §65,000 00 

Total debts retired and investment, §458,726 00 

This is exclusive of the amount of interest paid by Sinking Fund on bonds 
chargeable upon it, tho erection of five market houses, and the repairs and ma- 
king of wharves at Portland, Middle City, and Stradcr purchase, the repairing 
of the old Court-house, amounting, to date, to §40,975. In the whole, the addi- 
tional sum of §200,000, or thereabouts. 

Assessed Value of the Taxable Property of the ctty of Louisville. 
The assessed value of the taxable property of the city of Louisville for the 
year 1858, amounted to the sum of §34,000,000. 

The city has taken stock or loaned her faith and name to the following enter- 
prises, viz.: 

The Gas Company by bonds for stock, §100,000 00 

The Lexington and Ohio Railroad by bonds (dead loss), 200,000 00 

The Louisville and Frankfort Railroad by bonds, (loan of faith) 300,000 00 



%, 



§ 

u 

< 

14 
P 
P 



1 

5' 




BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS, iLC. 97 

The Jeffersonville Railroad by bonds, (loan of faith) 200,000 00 

The Louisville and Nashville Railroad by bonds and cash for 

stock and loan of faith 2,000,000 00 

The Lebanon Branch Railroad by bonds, (loan of faith) 225,000 00 

The Louit^ville Water Co. by bonds for stock issued §072.000 

to realize 550,000 GO 

Total aid already given 8:-{.575,000 00 

And ordinances have passed the council, and ap- 
])rovcd }>v the people, to aid by bonds the Mem- 
phis Branch of the Nashville Railroad, §300,000 00 

The Water Company by bonds for additional 
stock. 220,000 00 

Aid proposed §520,000 00 

Total aid §4.095,000 00 



BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS. 

ORPHAN ASYLUMS. 

There are six orphan asylums, four Protestant, and two Roman Catholic. 
These institutions are well arranged and cared for, and do much to bless the 
fatherless and motherless. 

PUBLIC HOSPITALS, 

There are two public hospitals, one belonging to and sustained by the city, 
the other was built and is sustained by the Federal Government. Both are 
well provided with every comfort for the sick and disabled. Besides the above 
there are several private hospitals and infirmaries. 

There is a city alms house, a fine building, with spacious grounds, and a large 
school for the poor children connected therewith. Also a pest house, with 
premises, for the reception and treatment of small pox patients. 

BLIND ASYLUM. 

The institution for the blind, built and sustained by the State, is just beyond 
the eastern city limits, on a beautiful eminence, which commands a fine view of 
the city and of the country for miles around. It is a large and handsome 
building, four stories high, and well furnished with every convenience for the 
inmates. The blind are taught to read and some of them are good Latin 
scholars, and understand geography, music, and other arts and sciences. They 
also learn various kinds of handicraft, both useful and ornamental, by which 
they may make a living after they quit the Institution. 



CHURCHES, 

There are fifteen Methodist, six Baptist, five Presbyterian, five Lutheran, five 
Protestant Episcopal, two Christian, one Cumberland Presbyterian, one Asso- 
ciate Reformed, one Unitarian, one Universalist, two Jewish Synagogues, and 
five Roman Catholic Churches. Many of these buildings are fine specimens of 
architectural elegance and beauty, while others are convenient but unpretending. 



SABBATH SCHOOLS. 

There are 43 Sunday-schools, taught by t>75 teachers, and. having in them 
4,000 children. Besides these there arc eight Sunday-schools for colored chil- 
dren, having 775 children and 96 teachers. Total 51 Sunday-schools, 671 
teachers, and 4775 scholars. 



98 CEMETERY — MASONIC — I. O. O. F. 

CEMETERY. 

C:ivo-hill cemetery is very handsomely laid out, and hiirlily improved with 
nearly every variety of ornamental tree, shrub, and flower. The <tround beini;- 
naturally undulating and beautifully diversified, affords opportunity for every 
form and style of ornamental design, and these have been conceived and execu- 
ted by Mr. Ross, whose taste and experience are of the first order, until the eye 
of the visitor is surprised and charmed at the multitudinous forms of beauty 
around him. The monuments, too, are strikingly appropriate and beautiful, and 
som-e of them arc quite costly structures. Taken as a whole, we do not recol- 
lect to have seen a more beautiful cemetery any where. There are other smaller 
cemeteries of some note, as the Eastern or Weslcyan (Cemetery, and the Western 
(Vmetery. Cave-hill Cemetery contains nearly one hundred acres. 



MASONIC FRATERNITY. 

3Iasonic Temple, corner Jefierson and Fourth streets. The order in the city 
is thus represented : Grand Consistory of Kentucky; Louisville Encampment, 
No. 1; Louisville Council, No. 4; Louisville Royal Arch Chapter, No. 5; King 
Solomon's Chapter, No. 18; Abraham Lodge, No. 8; Clark Lodge. No. 51; Mt. 
Moriah Lodge, No. 106; Antiquity Lodge, No. 113; Mt. Zion Lodge, No. 147; 
Compass Lodge, No. 293; Willis Stewart Lodge, No. 224; St. George Lodge, 
No. 239; Tyler Lodge, U. D.; Lewis Lodge, (Portland) No. 191 ; Excelsior 
Lodge, No. 258; Robinson Lodge, No. 266; Preston Lodge, No. 281. 



I. O. 0. F. 

The Hall is on Jefierson street, between First and Second. There are twelve 
Subordinate Lodges in the city, viz.: Boone No. 1; Chosen Friends No. 2; 
Lorain No. 4; Herman No. 17; Azur No. 25; Marshall No. 29; Eureka No. 
86; Fonda No. 48; Schiller No. 60; Corinthian No. 74; Louisville No. 81 ; 
Portland No. 138. 

These Lodges have an aggregate membership of 1301. The Grand Lodge of 
Kentucky meets annually in the city of Louisville. There are four degree 
Lodges and four Encampments. 

The annual receipts from the Subordinate Lodges in the citv 
for 1858 were '.. $11,300 Gl 

The annual receipts from the Encampments for 1858 were 1,099 51 

Total revenue in the city, S12,400 51 

Amount expended for relief of brothers and patriarchs in the 

city ?3,813 87 

For relief of widowed families 669 00 

" Education of orphans, 193 35 

" Burying the dead 909 40 

Total amount expended 85,585 62 

FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

The Fire Department of Louisville is as thoroughly organized and as cfiicient 
as that of any city in the Union. It consists of five steam engines, with all 
the necessary appurtenances — employs 65 men and 23 horses, and costs the 
city S21,702 86 per annum. The number of fires has decreased more than 
three-fourths under the new organization, and the loss of property is less than 
one-oijrhth. 



COM PA RATI VE STATEMEMT. 



99 



c -f-- 



« 2. ^ S" 2. = < 



': = 



-2^ i"^ 

, 1— » 1 o ^ 

.-5 -"i o " 



'I 
-I — ' 

w 

1* ^ 



c« 



» 3 " -► 



^ f^ -^ -.-r3 

^ ■ -^ 3 -i c= 

^ 2 " ^^ S 

-< ►^ = S O ^. 

O J-- r<- 0-. 3 X 

3 O r^ T:! 



C ^. c- ^ 



ct on 



?i r< 3 ^- S- — 



o 


,^ 






3 


o 




CD 










M 




3 




c 


'^ 






i->3 






3- O 


i-«- 






« ►-- 



r> 12: - . 



o ^ :j^ 



3 -► 






3 a 



3 .^ 



^ I— I 

^ o 

3- 3 



3 ng 



'r. 2 



3 "" 

a I 



(5 en 
en? ?' 



•-2 O 



O V. 



V5 o S 



' S" 2 



re - X 



.- "^ 'v' 3 — : 



^.33 



« ^ 2 2. ? =• 
~ o 4 '-'• — 3 

-' •-< ri ^ -_ - " ' ^^ 



3- 



3 — '^ 



W 



-^ r:=- 
^ a. 3 n 

-•3 '^^ «. - • 
-'• = ? ^-5-0 

=• p 5. o- ^ = 

-^ -• 3 - <r^ 

s 2" " ^ S" ^' p 

^-^^« re S. S- 

^ ^ « 3 ?5 2.S 

j3 O O p l^ 2 

— ' o 3 1 ^ ^2. 

W ►i _ CO 3" 
I3 ^^ "^"-P 

re ^ C^ - 

3 _ O "•^ '~^. 1-^ 
- - — -3- ^ 

re » 



00 

o 

o 



'o- 



.--i o 

O >-*3 

-u »= ^ re ^ 5 



re 



"^ 2- 
p =1 

>— re 



35 

o ^ 

• '73 

re 
re 



m — -1 

O r/i en 

O ^ 2.1. 

_ « 

re 3^ p 

rep — 

CiO Cl^ re 

o 00 
;:^ ^ 2 



..• o 

~- P ^ 3 



O 3 



O - 

3 






3 I-! 

p- 



re 



— r->- 3 p 

cc re » 3 

iri- -» <t> 

•-< « 3' <^ 

rt> fro P ^ 

vo • p 

o' S? 



o 

CD 



^i5 



O 

o 



re 



3 

5' 
1^ 



r^ X '-< "^ -: ^ '-^- 

o re t: t' ;i* 3" r^ 

1=^ s5 '^L 3 — o" i_ 



l>3 l-» ^-i 

•^1 H-i t>3 1-5 tn *-J 01 

O -^ O O' U'JSJ^ 

0000000 
0000000 



o to o 
O U' en 



O t-' to 
CI o O 



CI CO o 

o o o^ 



o o 



05 

JsfcL 



1^ CO c C "<l t-» 
C C CO I— I c o o 



tO ~-7 to 

O to Ci 



t^i. O -7 
CI -^I o 



CO to CO 

o cro 
000 



CO CO to 

O CO d 

to to to 

CO O CO 
C CO CJi 



I— ' I— ' to 

o c o 
000 
000 



►^ to to tn CO ^ 
i-i 01 O CO O CO to 



CO h-i C5 to CO 

4^ jw j;*. JO J-* jt^ J 

"o "^1 ~H-» lo "n-i "(— ' ~ 
£» CO CO 00 CO C5 
O C C O) O 00 



to 1-1 to CO 

O CO O O "^ c< 

000000 
000000 



to C I— ' CO 4- 

j/r- to C5J=>_pJWJ.-0 

"co "-1 "o "bo ~b< "-1 "rf^ 
C C Ci I— ' c» o o 
o o o w o o o 



I— > I— ' I— ' 
C to to CO tNS c» 

CO J?5 JO JO J-* J'l JS> 

CO "4^ ">— ">-' ~C5 "bo o 

CO 00 CO O CO C5 o 

o -' u« CO o :x o 



^i 



2.- 









ii 






to 






~-1 


05 













^ 


r^ 


~i. 


»■ 





- 


'^ 


>i>* 


^ 


s 




1- 


<^ 


> 


1^ 


^ 


> 




ri 


1— ( 


^ 


S 


<1 




^ 


W 






GO 


s:j 


•>i 


> 


«$^ 


^ 


H 




■>♦. 


W 








^ 





M 


H 


~1.' 


^ 




s 




H 


c^' 


.0 




~ 


^ 




•■^^1 













1^ 






^ 



"=<^ 



FA^LLS CITY 

REAL ESTATE AND COLLECTING AGENCY. 



RICHARD DEERING. DRUMMOND WELBURX. 

DEESINK & WELBURN, 

Real Estate and Collecting Agents, 

Corner Third and Jefferson Sts., Old Postoffice Building, 



Will attend to buying and selling Real Estate, renting Dwel- 
ling and Business Houses, and all the business of a general 
Collecting Agency. 

To persons desirous of transacting business through reliable 
Agents, on fair and honorable principles, we respectfully oifer 
our services. An extensive acquaintance in Louisville, Xew 
Albany, and Jeifersonville, and the adjacent regions of country, 
gives us admirable facilities for conducting successfully the 
))usiness in which we are en2:ac>:ed. 

The Cities at the Falls of the Ohio present at this time 
extraordinary attractions to all classes of people. Their rapid 
growth oifers the mechanic constant employment and good 
wages; their vast capital, unlimited water power, and home 
market, invite the manufacturer to set his machinery in opera- 
tion. The mercantile community know that fewer failures take 
])l;ico here Ihan in any other city of one hundred thousand 
inhabitants in this country. The capitalist will here lind prop- 
erty at very reasonable prices, with a certain prospect of rapid 
iulvaiice. Good health, pure water, public and private schools 
of the highest order, excellent society, &c., invite those in 
search of a pleasant homo to locate here. 

H 107 89 t 








°o 



&•-. -ov*' :^B^: '-^-o^ r 



^ %'^-'\<p v^'^''s**'' V^'%°' '^. 





























* 'I 



BINDERY INC. I°l | ^/f^jg^'. ^ «, /^Va" '^'^r. c.V ' 



% -^^0^ : 



HECKMAN 




#NOV 89 
N MANCHESTER. 
INDIANA 46962_ 




,0^ \5. *'T^.T» A 





